Chapter 177

Fraser had just gotten a call from his assistant.

The team he had sent to Zerovia, four people in total, including the local contact, had vanished without a trace.

The last reports weren't just troubling-they were catastrophic. All of tem had been taken out.

As Fraser ran through the news in his mind, weighing his next move, he almost bumped into Lainey at the stairwell entrance.

Something about her was off. Her ambitious expression hadn't completely faded, and the way she moved suggested she was hiding something.

His eyes narrowed as he studied her carefully. "Why are you here?" he demanded.

What could possibly have brought her to the stairwell?

Lainey forced a casual shrug, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead to hide her panic.

"Well," she said lightly, "the elevator was packed, so l figured I'd take the stairs. Needed a bit of space to think."

Her tone was calm, but inside, her heart was pounding.

The conversation she had just had with Horace kept replaying in her mind.

When had Fraser arrived?

Had he heard even a single word?

One slip, and she would be in serious trouble.

Trying to sound casual, she tilted her head slightly. "Fraser, were you looking for me? Or did you just happen to pass by?" Her words danced between friendliness and careful probing.

Fraser, however, didn't answer immediately. He just watched her, silent and unblinking.

A chill ran down her spine under that steady stare, and for a moment, she felt herself nearly unravel.

Just then, Jeff stepped out of the hospital room.

Like a lifeline, Lainey rushed over, clutching his arm, her voice pitched with a whiny edge."Dad."

Jeff frowned at the tension in the air, glancing first at his pale-faced daughter, then at his serious son."Fraser, you're not giving your sister a hard time again, are you?"

"NO1"Fraser replied evenly, looking away. "I was just asking a few questions."

Jeff gave a small nod, satisfied with his son's answer.

He patted Lainey's hand gently, offering a reassuring squeeze. "You two should spend more time talking.It'll help you understand each other better."

Right when he turned to leave, something occurred to him, and he added, "Your mother mentioned she hadn't had a proper spa day in a while, so she went out with Denny. Discharge papers are all set, so unless you've got business here, head home quickly."

What Jeff didn't say was that Hilda hadn't gone for a spa. She had gone to gather hair samples from Eleanor.

He had hidden the truth.

Until the test results came out, any guesses were risky.

If Lainey really was their flesh and blood, those doubts would always hurt her deeply.

Once he was gone, Fraser and Lainey were left alone in the corridor.

Fraser was about to continue testing her when his phone rang.

He picked up the call, and his assistant's anxious voice came through immediately. "Mr. Benton, there's trouble at the company. A major shipment in Breoqua has been hijacked. They need you to handle it personally."

Fraser's brows drew together tightly. "I understand."

He ended the call and let his gaze fall on Lainey. Her wide, innocent eyes didn't fool him.

He refused to believe that she had nothing to do with these incidents.

But who was the powerful person supporting her?

How could someone have such control?

For now, though, the company's stability had to come first.

Once he got to Breoqua, he could use the resources there to investigate thoroughly.

With that decision made, he stepped a little closer to her, his voice low and edged with warning. "I don't know if any of this involves you, but know this-I will keep an eye on you."

With that, he turned and strode away, leaving Lainey standing in the corridor.