Chapter 173

Someone was dragged out in a hurry.

Fraser narrowed his eyes and recognized the man.

It was Jonny, the head of Todd Group. He used to be married to Eleanor. Now, he was Lainey's husband.

Fraser had already heard whispers about him while he was staying in Breoqua. Lainey planned to leave Jonny because he mistreated her.

He wondered if Eleanor had gone through the same thing.

The possibility chilled Fraser. His gaze hardened.

Meanwhile, Jonny had no idea he was not welcome there. He fought against the head of security and shouted threats at him. "You idiot better let me go! Do you even know who you're dealing with? I'm Lainey's husband, and I run the Todd Group!"

The head of security did not even flinch at his outburst.

Fraser made his way down the steps, pausing right in front of Jonny.

His expression was cold behind those gold-rimmed glasses. "Is it true you hit Lainey?".

Jonny lifted his eyes and caught sight of a man whose features carried a trace of Hilda's likeness. At.once,he realized it was Fraser. Hlis resistance faded, and his face lit up with joy. "You're Lainey's brother, right?Fraser, isn't it? I'm Jonny Todd!"

Eager to clear his name, he rushed to explain, eyes wide and voice pleading. "No, you have to believe me.1never laid a hand on her. You can ask my ex-wife; we were married for three years, and I never laid a hand on her. I haven't even been with Lainey that long. There's no way I would have hit her. Lainey just got mad at me and twisted the story."

Without wasting any time, Jonny blurted out what he wanted. "Fraser, I want to see Lainey.I need to talk to her, even if it's just for a minute. Please. I won't cause any trouble."

After hearing Jonny's request, Fraser could not be bothered to keep talking.

He turned icy, cutting the conversation short with a look at security. "Get him out of here."

"Understood, Mr. Benton." The head of security stepped forward, pulling Jonny away.

The harshness caught Jonny off guard. He shot Fraser a bitter glare, his words turning venomous. "Your family really is heartless! None of you understands Lainey at all!"

Fraser paused for just a second as he started to walk away.

Sensing an.opening, Jonny yelled louder, voice cracking with desperation, "Lainey's the problem, not me! l wouldn't be in this mess if it weren't for her! Let me in and I'Il tell you everything about what she's done!"

There was no way Fraser would let Jonny in.

It wasn't about defending Lainey.

The Benton family never welcomed just anyone ito their home.

With a simple gesture, Fraser signaled for the head of security to keep going, and the latter tightened his grip,hauling Jonny toward the gates.

When he realized Fraser would not budge, Jonny's frustration boiled over. "You'll regret this! Every one of you will!"

...

His rant faded into the distance as the heavy iron gate closed with a final, echoing thud.

A haze of smoke curled around Fraser as he settled into the old gazebo and lit a cigarette.

Even with all he knew about Lainey's sharp edges, Jonny's accusations suggested there was a hidden side to her.

It seemed Lainey was a hell of a lot more than mnet the eye. He pulled out his phone and dialed his assistant, voice steady but urgent. "Dig into everything about Lainey's time overseas. I want a full report, down to the smallest detail."

"Right away, Mr. Benton."

He had already looked into her life here. Other than the possibility she was impersonating his sister and an attitude that bordered on arrogant, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

There was that stretch of time she spent abroad. She didn't seem to be the type to devote herself to her studies.

Maybe she had gotten into something she shouldn't have.

He needed proof.

The more dirt he had on Lainey, the easier it would be to convince his father that she wasn't their family.

Otherwise, as long as his father felt anything for her, he might always keep her close, even if it turned out she was never really his daughter.

He would never allow that.