The Pretender and The Prince novel Chapter 49

Zaria told her his name was Vincent Henson, a real estate developer who had used bribes to rig bids and illegally acquire land-use rights.

Ondine’s mind immediately went to Chantal Henson. When she had worked that part-time job dressed as a clown, she had overheard some of Ellis’s friends mention that Chantal’s family was in real estate.

Could it be such a coincidence?

She opened Twitter and searched for Vincent Henson.

Countless results popped up. Ondine scrolled through the comments, reading them one by one, until she found what she was looking for.

[Vincent’s daughter is named Chantal. She’s no saint either. Used to be a real bully in high school.]

[Oh yeah, I remember that! There was a girl who had to transfer schools because of how badly Chantal treated her.]

[I’m in the same social circle as Chantal. Her dad got arrested for bribery, and her mom took all the money and ran. Overnight, Chantal went from a pampered princess to the daughter of a criminal. And now some big shot is in the process of acquiring the Henson Group.]

Ondine frowned at the last comment. Her intuition told her that the “big shot” buying out the Henson Group was very likely Seth.

She couldn’t resist replying: [Do you know who’s acquiring the Henson Group?]

A few minutes later, the user responded: [No idea about that. But get this, that vice president from Meridian Hospital, Harley, who’s all over the news? He’s Chantal’s uncle. The Henson family only got investigated because of their connection to him.]

Ondine was silent, her thoughts racing.

Harley was also connected to Chantal? Why would Seth suddenly go after them? Was it because…

As Ondine connected the dots, a hazy suspicion began to form in her mind. That night, her thoughts churned, and she slept fitfully.

...

The next morning, Ondine got up, dressed, and went downstairs for breakfast.

Seth’s gaze deepened, and he looked at her with an intensity that made her heart race.

A moment later, his low, clear voice cut through the silence. “It was because of you.”

The words were simple, but they hit Ondine with the force of a physical blow, rooting her to the spot.

Her lips parted, but no sound came out. Shock crashed over her in waves, overwhelming her every thought. Under the weight of his dark, penetrating gaze, her heart began to pound a frantic rhythm against her ribs.

Finally, she seemed to find her voice. “Why?” she asked, her eyes filled with confusion.

The man across from her held her gaze, his eyes unblinking. “Because you are my wife,” he said, his voice laced with a cold, protective fire. “And I will not allow anyone to hurt you.”

The world around her seemed to fall away, leaving only the sound of her own hammering heart.