Chapter 176

Lainey hadn't made it three steps from the door before her phone rang, sharp and unexpected.

Heart racing, she slipped into the stairwell, her hands clammy and her face drained of color.

The caller ID flashed across the screen, making her gri her teeth. She answered, irritation sharp in her voice, "What now? Didn't I tell you not to call unless it was urgent?"

A low, mocking laugh echoed from the other end.

"Such a handful, aren't you? I went out of my way to help you, and instead of figuring out how to show a little gratitude, this is how you choose to talk to me. Truly, I'm heartbroken," Horace remarked, each word lazily taunting, pressing against Lainey's nerves.

She retorted, "What are you talking about?"

Help?

She hadn't asked him for anything. Not recently.

Before she could piece it together, Horace's tone changed, smooth but laced with quiet threat."Your brother Fraser sent some people to Zerovia, digging around for dirt on you. Good thing for you, my team intercepted them before they got anywhere."

He let the words linger, slow and deadly. "They al died."

Lainey's thoughts erupted in chaos.

She pressed her back to the cold wall, trying not to sink to the floor.

Fraser was on her trail-he had sent people halfway around the world to find out what she had done.

What did he already know? What evidence was in his hands?

No. This couldn't be happening. Sitting around and waiting to be found out was never an option.

If she let Fraser keep digging, every last secret she had fought to hide would spill out into the open.

Fooling Jeff and his wife wouldn't save her-she needed something ironclad, a plan that couldn't fall apart.

Right now, Horace was the only person left she could count on.

Forcing herself to sound calm, Lainey let her voice turn soft, sweet as honey. "Horace, you know me better than that. I was just worried you might get caught up in this mess."

She let out a soft chuckle, as though she had never been the one who lost control. "You can count on me to remember what you've done for me. Would you mind lending me a hand again? Just help me take over the Benton family business. Once I've done that, I'll split everything I get from the Bentons with you. What do you think?"

The other side of the call stayed quiet.

Lainey could picture the greedy spark lighting up his eyes.

Half of the Benton family's fortune.

Nobody could walk away from a deal like that.

As expected, Horace's low laugh echoed after a pause.

"It's a deal," Horace replied,sounding pleased.

Lainey allowed herself to breathe easier.

Right now, she had to handle Fraser.

Getting rid of him completely wasn't an option.

Someone in his position would only cause more trouble if he died.

She just needed to keep him occupied and out of her way until her plan worked.

Once she had the old couple completely on her side, she could take her time figuring out how to handle him With that settled in her mind, Lainey gave a clear order. "I don't care what it takes. Just get Fraser to come back to Breoqua."

Horace did not like being bossed around, but thoughts of the Benton family's fortune were enough to make him agree. "Alright. But if you try anything after this-"

He always circled back to threats like that.

Lainey cut him off without missing a beat. "Horace, both of us are stuck in this together. There's no backing out now. If I go back on my word, I'll have nowhere to hide. Just do your part and trust me. Before long, the Benton family will belong to us!"

She knew exactly how to keep him interested, and her voice made that clear.

For the first time,Horace seemed truly convinced.

After ending the call, Lainey let her hand fall to her side and her smile vanished.

Her nails pressed into her palms until she felt a sting of pain.

That sharp sensation helped her focus and push aside any fear.

She would not let anyone block her path.

She had not survived everything she had been through just to end up losing again.

Everything the Benton family owned would one day be hers.

Masking the fire in her eyes, she turned and pressed the fire door open.

But she had barely stepped out when she collided with a broad chest.

She glanced up and met a pair of dark, unreadable eyes.

Fraser stood right in front of her.