?Chapter 1498:

    She had assumed Nate had brought her to the hotel with the intention of having her stay.

    She didn’t think much of it and only replied softly, “Okay.” As she was leaving, Corrine pressed her lips to Nate’s in a tender kiss.

    “You should rest early.”

    “Okay.”

    Corrine departed the hotel and headed straight to the Ford Mansion. When she stepped out of the car, her attention was caught by a Ford family vehicle gliding away from the property.

    The windows were heavily tinted, obscuring any glimpse of who might be inside.

    Upon entering the house, she noticed servants carefully gathering the coffee cups from the living room table.

    Her eyebrows arched with curiosity as her questioning gaze swept over the scene. “Did we have guests tonight?”

    The timing struck her as unusual. Given Carl’s advanced age, visitors typically called during morning or afternoon hours—rarely after nightfall.

    Hearing her question, Lnd, the butler, hesitated momentarily before saying, “Just someone we haven’t seen in a long time.”

    When she heard that, Corrine didn’t dwell on the visitor; instead, she asked, “Did Grandpa already turn in for the night?”

    “He did,” said Lnd. “He spent the whole day out fishing with his buddies. Worn out now.”

    She nodded and made her way to the stairs but paused when Jules stepped out of Carl’s room. The sight of him caught her off guard.

    “What are you doing here?”

    Nuevos capítulos en g?lnσv?ls

    “Came by to sort out the wedding schedule.” He walked closer, motioning toward the door with a slight tilt of his chin. “Care for a word outside?”

    Corrine’s brow lifted just a touch. “Do you happen to have wine?”

    With a faint grin, Jules turned and started for the wine cer. “Follow me.”

    Inside the wine cer, they took their seats on a soft leather couch. The gleam of crystal chandeliers and tall wine racks gave the room an air of quiet elegance.

    Corrine dropped a few ice cubes into her brandy and gave the ss azy swirl. “Is Dewey off your back now?”

    She doubted Dewey would go quietly. Still, knowing how Jules handled things, he probably didn’t give the man much of a choice. She figured that must be the reason he wanted to speak with her. There was something off about Jules tonight. He looked like a man carrying more weight than usual.

    When Corrine asked, he raised his eyes. They were dark and sharp, filled with something heavy.

    Without a word, he pulled a cigarette from his coat pocket and lit it. The smoke steadied him, offering a fleeting calm that dulled the edge of whatever he was feeling.

    “You’ll see it on the news first thing tomorrow. The Hond family is finished. Bankruptcy due to mountains of debt,” he said.

    He didn’t look away. His eyes stayed on her, searching for even the smallest sign of emotion.

    But Corrine gave him nothing. Her face stayed smooth, untouched by the mention of Dewey.

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