Chapter 4: Secrets on the Wire

Just as I changed out of my dress to rest, my cousin called: "Grace, where are you? Come pick me up at Neon, I’ve been drinking and can’t drive."

Her voice was loud, the background noisy.

"I’ll go with you," Ethan said, putting down the apple he was about to peel.

"No need," I stopped him. "She just broke up with someone—probably at a bar drowning her sorrows. You don’t want to witness that. I won’t be back tonight, I don’t want her alone when she’s drunk. Keep an eye on Mason for me."

"Okay, be careful. Call me if you need anything."

"Mm, I’m heading out."

I took my own car.

Leaving the complex, I turned on the surveillance app on my backup phone and listened as I drove to Neon.

The PI had already installed listening devices in the living room and Ethan’s study.

I knew Ethan would want to talk to Lauren tonight, so I’d arranged things with my cousin at the party and texted her before entering. That’s how that little scene came about.

But my cousin really was at the bar, really heartbroken.

On my phone, Ethan’s voice came through: "Why did you go talk to her today? If you slip up, we’re screwed! Wasn’t that set incident close enough?"

"Relax, I was just testing her. Don’t you think it’s fun to mess with her like we were pulling the strings? Don’t worry, she definitely suspects nothing. People who grew up that sheltered are never on guard. Even Daniel Price is forty and still hasn’t learned a thing."

"Don’t do that again."

"What, feeling sorry for her? I get it, you’re with her all the time, and she’s so kind and innocent.

"Not like me—calculating, scheming, pushing my boyfriend to chase a rich girl, plotting on the side.

"To give my child a better life, I got pregnant at the same time as someone else, then swapped the babies so mother and son would be separated.

"But so what? Fate’s on my side. Everything I want, I get."

So it was a trap from the start.

But my first reaction wasn’t anger—it was a kind of grudging respect. Look at how hard they worked.

"I don’t feel sorry for her."

"I could’ve been kind and innocent too. But my mom died young, my dad remarried, and I got stuck with a stepmother. When Mason inherits the Parker family, I’ll shove that good news in those two bastards’ faces, so they can see how successful my child is! I..."

"Shut up," Ethan snapped.

Lauren fell silent.

A long pause.

"Sorry. I won’t bring it up again," she said softly.

"When the company’s on its feet, I’ll divorce Grace and we’ll be together. It’s not time yet—I still need the Parker family’s connections and resources," Ethan sighed, his tone gentle. "Also, if... anything happens to us, Mason still needs her. So she can’t suspect a thing."

After a while, Lauren spoke. "Okay. I promise, I won’t approach her again. You promise me, don’t feel sorry for Grace, don’t... fall for her."

"You’re the only one I love."

"As long as we keep this up, she’ll never get hurt. As for divorce, we can make her fall for someone else first—then everyone wins."

"Okay, we’ll do it your way."

Once again, I was stunned by how low they could go!

After taking my cousin home from the bar, we talked about what I’d just heard between Ethan and Lauren.

"They’re evil!" My cousin was speechless. "They treat people like toys, thinking they can manipulate anyone."

"Once I clean up this mess and tell Aunt Linda the truth, she’ll never bug you about getting married again."

My cousin is carefree, only dates, never marries. Today’s breakup was because her boyfriend proposed in public, so she dumped him on the spot.

"I’d rather be nagged about marriage every day than see you in a marriage so cruelly manipulated. It hurts just thinking about it." She was teary-eyed.

"It’s okay," I hugged her. "At least I found out in time. I can still fix things."

"Yeah. How’s the investigator’s progress?"

"He’s already got Lauren’s DNA sample and sent it for testing with Mason’s."

I was already sure of the result, but a test made it official.

"Got any video of the two of them together?"

"Not yet. They haven’t met privately lately."

While waiting for my cousin in the car, I’d told the investigator to look into their entire history as well as keep tracking them.

Their conversation hinted at some deeper secrets.

"Once you have the evidence, just get divorced. Living with someone like that is terrifying."

"Yeah, but I have to wait for him to bring it up."

"What are you thinking?" My cousin touched my forehead. "You’re not running a fever. That jerk said he won’t divorce for years. Are you going to pay him off?"

"He wishes." I laughed, brushing her hand away. "What do you think would happen if Lauren got exposed as a mistress?"

"Probably not much. She’s not the type to attract fans or haters. Even if you put her on trending searches, no one cares."

"Really? I was hoping to use her fame to make a big scene."

"Not likely. She’s got nothing airing, no deals lined up. Her agent’s so desperate they’re thinking about clout-chasing some male star."

"How does that work?"

"Buy trending topics with both their names, wear the same outfits as the guy, show up at his building, whatever. Lots of tricks.

"But it’s risky. Sure, it gets attention, but the guy’s fans will dig up everything about her, prove she’s clout-chasing, and spread her dirt everywhere.

"Unless it’s something career-ending, it won’t matter. Any attention is good attention.

"If you don’t clear things with the guy first, he might publicly deny it and embarrass her. If he agrees, it’s fine."

"Why would any guy agree to that?"

"When male stars have nothing airing, they need buzz too. Fake scandals just make their fans love them more."

I smiled at my cousin.

She touched her face. "What? Is my makeup smudged? Wait, I already took it off."

"Just thinking, if she tries clout-chasing a guy who’s willing to play along, it’d be perfect for me."

My cousin caught on. "Then you leak the mistress evidence during the chaos?"

I nodded.

"Great, you gather evidence. I’ll set up the fake scandal."