bChapter /b60

Soon enoughb, /bCharlotte learned the full story behind the knife attack.

The assant, Hank bWright/bb, /bwas the owner and legal representative of a privatepany. Due to a contract dispute, hispany was taken to court by another business. bMax /brepresented the bopposing /bparty and won the case.

After bthe /bverdict, Hank was found liable for breach of contract and ordered to pay substantial damages. When the case moved into the enforcement phase, the court froze bhis /bpany’s ounts.

Things only bgot /bworseb. /bbMax /bsoon uncovered evidence that Hank had been mixing personal andpany assets and had illegally withdrawn capital. A secondwsuit followed. This time, bthe /bcourt seized Hank’s personal property and impounded valuable assets.

Then came bthe /bfinal blow. Hank’s wife cheated on him, cleaned out their savings, and ran off with another man.

Everything copsed. Hank lost everything–hispany, his money, his reputation, and even his family. In his eyes, it was all because of Max and bthe /bwyers bat /bS&G. So bhe /bsnapped, showed up with a knife, and tried to take revenge.

Luckily, Max survived emergency surgery and was now bin /bstable condition.

After the attackb, /bthe firm quickly converted ba /bspare room into a security office. Tworgeb, /bmuscr guards moved in. They were clearly the bodyguards Sean had arranged for Charlotte.

Meanwhile, Zac had been recovering at the hospital for half a month.

During that timeb, /bhe had called Charlotte over and over again using his assistant’s phone. Not once did she answer. She never came to visit,

not even once.

Every time the door creaked open, he held his breathb, /bhoping it would be bher/bb. /b

But it never was.

He spent every day torturing himself with images of Charlotte and that other man together. The thought alone felt like knives to the chest.

discharged. Finally, after two agonizing weeks, Zac was

If Charlotte wouldn’te bsee /bhim, then he would go

bsee /bher.

He bcouldn’t /bwait another second.

On the day of his discharge, Zac walked ahead while Wendy and his assistant followed closely behind.

“is everything set up with the Sullivan Corporation?” Zac asked as they headed toward bthe /bparking garage.

During his hospital stay, bthe /bboard at Gibson Corporation had been hounding him for updates on bthe /binvestment deal.

His assistant replied, b“/bbMr. /bGibsonb, /bnext Friday at b8 p.m./bb, /bMr. Sullivan is attending a formal dinner. bI’ve /bsecured byou /ban invitationb./bb” /b

Zac pulled open the car door and got in. bThe /bassistant climbed into bthe /bbfront /bpassenger bseat/b.

“What kind of dinner is it?” Zac asked.

“It’s a wee receptionb,/b” bthe /bassistant exined. “For Mr. Sullivan’s cousin his maternal cousin, bI /bbbelieve/bb. /bbShe /bjust returned to bJersey /bCity. He’s introducing her to the local business and bsocial /bbscene/b. bThe /bguest list is bpretty /bexclusive.”

From bthe /bback seat, Wendy leaned in and clung to Zac’s arm.

Zac nced downb, /bbthen /bsubtly pulled his arm away.

Wendy’s expression stiffened.

bHe /bhadn’t done that before.

Ever bsince /bbshe /breturned from overseas, Zac bhad been /bbglued /bto her side. bThey /bhad hooked up more than bonce/b. He used to be bobsessed/b.

So why was he pushing her away now?

Was bhe /bstill thinking about Charlotte?

“Zac, what’s going on with you-‘

”

Before she bcould /bfinishb, /bZac cut her off. b“/bHow old is Mr. Sullivan’s bcousin/b?”

“Early btwenties/bb, /bbI /bbthink/bb,/b” the assistant answered. “bVery young/b.b” /b

“Got bany /bdetails on her?b” /b

“Sorry, Mr. Gibson. I bhaven’t /bbeen able bto /bbdig /bup banything specific/b.”

Zac didn’t press further. If Steven Sullivan wanted bto /bprotect someone’s identityb, /bthere was no way an assistant could find anything out. Besidesb, /bSteven’s cousin had to be from a powerful family. People like that bdidn’t /bhave public profiles just floating around.

“But,” the assistant added, “bI /bdid hear one thing–she’s getting engaged in a couple of weeks. Apparently, Mr. Sullivan’s very protective of her. If you bring a nice gift for the engagementb, /bit could bscore /bbyou /bsome serious points. If she’s happy, Mr. Sullivan might be more inclined to help with the investmentb./b”

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