Chapter 45

Megan turned her head and caught the male nurse staring at her in surprise.

"Miss Shaw, what are you doing?"

Megan gave him a calm smile, lifting the feather duster in her hand. "Just dusting off a bit, no biggie."

Inwardly, she gave herself a mental high five-classic misdirection, worked like a charm.

She hopped off the chair lightly.

Right then, the sound of heels clicked outside the hospital room.

The door swung open and in walked Molly, holding a soft pink bouquet in one hand.

The moment she saw Megan, she flashed a sugary smile. "Oh! So you're here too,Meg."

That voice might sound sweet to others, butto Megan,it was pure nails-on-chalkboard. Her eyes narrowed."He's not even your real grandpa, and his wife's not your real grandma. You seriously think you need to come here pretending to care?"

Molly set the fruit basket on the table and pouted,playing the hurt victim. "We've lived under the same roof for over ten years. Grandpa really means so much to me. You still can't forgive me, Meg? I never meant for things to turn out this way. I really am sorry."

The male nurse's jaw nearly hit the floor. Was this the same woman who last time acted all high and mighty?She was terrifying! Two-faced to the core. All this rich family drama. nope, better stay out of it before he got caught in the crossfire.

Megan couldn't be bothered with Molly anymore. She washed her hands in the bathroom, then sat by the bed and started peeling an apple.

Molly,seeing she was being ignored, forced a smile and said, "Grandpa Reid's birthday banquet is this Saturday. I'm sure you'll be attending too,right?"

Megan glanced up at her in silence for a second."Oh?So you're going too?"

Molly lowered her gaze, giving another soft smile. "I'm going as Wyatt's date."

"Ha." Megan sliced off a piece of apple and popped it into her mouth. "His date or... his bedtime buddy?"

"What are you even saying, Meg?" Molly gripped her purse tightly, clearly stung.

"I'm speaking plain English," Megan deadpanned."If you don't get it, then step out and close the door on your way. I don't want you fake-crying over my grandpa ever again."

Molly's face turned pale, then flushed red. Her lips pressed into a thin line, nails digging into her leather bag.

Still, she forced herself to speak gently. "Alright, then.I'll leave now."

Before she turned, she even swiped at her cheek like wiping away invisible tears.

The moment the door clicked shut, Megan stood up and turned to the nurse. "If she shows up again, or anyone else unfamiliar comes around, I want to be informed immediately. What's your number?"

He rattledit off, and Megan dialed right then and there."Here's mine. Call me first thing if anything's off."The nurse gave a nod. "Got it. Don't worry."

Megan grabbed her bag and headed out of the hospital. On the way, her phone buzzed-Molly was in the middle of a call. Without hesitation, Megan tapped into it.

The voices of Molly and Wyatt came through loud and clear.

Molly said, "I tried to plant the camera at the hospital for evidence, but ran into that bitch unexpectedly."

Wyatt replied, "So it didn't work? Whatever. Just finish her off Saturday night. Then pull the hallway footage -it'll look like Tristan was the one with her. That idiot will totally fall for it."

Molly scoffed, "I haven't told you yet, but ever since she went on that hunger strike, she's totally changed.I can't control her like before." Wyatt's tone turned cold. "Then we'll make Saturday count. Stir things up between her and Tristan-make sure she hates him. He'll let her do anything she wants anyway."

"I know," Molly said, determined. "This time, it'll work."

"I also got word that the fighter got caught."

"What?"

"Chill. You never contacted him directly, right? Plus the guy handling the girl and the hacker-different numbers, voice changers, the works."

"I did all that, yeah. Still... makes me nervous."

"No loose ends, remember? Just tell him to kill the girl and bury her. Then vanish from the city."

"Okay. Oh, and I've found this drug-any woman takes it and loses all control. Even someone pure and stubborn won't be able to resist. That adopted brat dared to insult me? She's dead meat."

Wyatt chuckled. "As long as you're having fun. Baby,come over already. I've never tried it in a hospital room Can't wait for you to jump me."

"You're awful!" Molly giggled. "I'm on my way."

Listening to them, Megan's eyes darkened with rage.

They didn't even spare a little girl. And now,they planned to drug Rachel too.

Monsters.

In her past life, those two banked on Tristan's love for her-manipulating her to hurt him, using her to steal company secrets. What they didn't expect was that she was the hacker who dealt the final blow.

Even when Tristan found out it was her, he didn't fight back.

If he had pushed back just a little, maybe the company wouldn't have collapsed so thoroughly.

That thought made Megan's gaze ice-cold.

These two? Dream on.

She shut off the tapped call, started the engine, and headed straight to Reid Corporation.

At the same time, Samuel stepped out of the Knight Café and into his sports car.He twirled the flash drive between his fingers, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

So Megan used Four-Eyes as a cover? Not like the guy sold her out-dude clearly has no clue about programming.

Interesting.

Her connection with Blackwing definitely isn't simple

As long as he sticks with her, he'll eventually trace Blackwing's trail.

Reid Group Headquarters.

A sleek black Maybach drifted into the parking spot with smooth precision.

Megan, carrying a backpack, strode toward the towering skyscraper, heading straight for the executive elevator.

That's when a receptionist in uniform walked up with a polished smile. "Hello, miss. Who are you here to see?"

Megan curved her lips into a polite smile. "I'm here for Tristan."

The receptionist dipped her head slightly. "Do you have an appointment?"

Megan held up her phone. "Yeah, I do."

Remaining professional, the receptionist nodded."Please come to the front desk to register. I'll get in touch with Assistant Brooks. If you're on the list, we'll take you up."

Megan gave a small nod, cooperating nicely. "Sure."

While she was signing in, another receptionist sashayed over-this one wearing heavy makeup and carrying a steaming cup of coffee.

Her eyes scanned Megan with a full dose of arrogance."Ugh, another gold-digger here for the boss? Girl,have you looked in a mirror? Think you can just climb into his bed looking like that?"

Megan laughed lightly. "It's fine to protect your boss,but trash talk doesn't seem very 'professional'. Is this how employees at Reid Group treat guests?"

The first receptionist looked embarrassed. "I'm so sorry,miss." With a loud clunk, the flashy receptionist slammed the coffee cup on the desk, some of the hot liquid splashing out.

She snapped, "Why the hell are you apologizing to some random chick trying to sleep her way up?"

The first receptionist frowned,about to call Assistant Brooks, but the other woman reached over and ended the call mid-ring.

Crossing her arms dramatically, she sneered at Megan "Girls like you show up all the time. Save it and get lost. What if the boss actually notices you? Then what -do I just disappear?"

Megan looked at her, who was holding her head high like a queen bee, and calmly dialed Tristan's number.

Before she could hit call, the woman grabbed her wrist. "Look at this! She's actually pretending she knows the CEO. Got some nerve, thinking he'd go for someone like you!"

Megan's patience hit its limit. She yanked her arm back with force.

The woman's eyes widened. "You just hit me?!"

She hissed and immediately grabbed the coffee cup,flinging it straight toward Megan.