?Chapter 1046:

    Elsewhere, Gracie pushed open her apartment door to nothing but silence. Emptiness pressed in on her from every side. Her father was gone, murdered by Hector, and revenge felt far beyond her reach. Ethan, the man she loved, seemed to be slipping away with each passing day. It left her feeling broken and hopeless. More than oncetely, she had stared out the window and wondered what it would feel like to just give up and end everything.

    Still, a stubborn me burned inside her. She longed to make Hector pay and to win Ethan’s love. She couldn’t just die.

    Restless nights became routine, haunted by these thoughts. Only wine and sleeping pills could bring her some rest.

    She wandered to the wine rack, pulled out a bottle of red, and quickly removed the cork before filling her ss. The first ss disappeared quickly, followed by another. Before long, only a little remained in the bottle, but sleep still wouldn’te.

    Just then, the shrill ring of her phone startled her, echoing through the apartment. Inside, hope fluttered. Maybe Ethan was calling her.

    She reached for the phone, clinging to that tiny hope, but the screen showed only an unfamiliar number.

    Deciding to take out her frustrations on this stranger, she answered the call on impulse.

    “Who is this?” she askedzily, already nning tosh out if the person on the other end annoyed her.

    A woman’s voice drifted through the speaker. “Is this Gracie Wilson? I’m Rosie Harper.”

    Rosie Harper?

    Gracie struggled to recall the name, having no impression of this person. But with the surname, she believed the person might be rted to Brenna. Gracie replied in a cold voice, “I don’t know you. What do you want?”

    Rosie knew Gracie didn’t know her and offered a full introduction. “I’m married to Prince Maxley of Plieca. I’m also Brenna’s little sister.”

    “Okay, so what’s this about? Don’t tell me you’re calling tosh out at me for Brenna,” Gracie said.

    A lowugh slipped from Rosie. “No. Brenna stole the man I love from me, and I resent her. I’m calling to discuss a partnership with you. Can we meet at noon tomorrow?”

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    Gracie doubted every word, convinced Rosie was weaving a lie about her rtionship with Brenna. With a growing sense of irritation, she ended the conversation. “I’m not interested in meeting or working with you.”

    Without waiting for a response, she ended the call and reached for her drink.

    She received a friend request shortly after, but she ignored it.

    The next day, Brenna went to work as usual, only to be stopped by Alec at the building entrance. Concern etched his features, Alec said, “Is it true that Gracie is going to start working here from now on and won’t be leaving anytime soon? You’d better watch Ethan closely. Don’t let Graciee between you two.”

    Brenna shot him an uninterested look, unwilling to waste words on him, and stepped straight into the elevator.

    The previous night had found her poring over the Mitchell Group’s stocks, drafting a basic strategy in her mind. She nned to go over it with Joe first and then get Ethan’s thoughts.

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