Chapter 213 Explosive Scandal Rumors

Chapter 213 Explosive Scandal Rumors

Sloane's POV

But the moment I refreshed the page, a bold red headline stabbed at my eyes.

[Rex Corporation CEO's New Flame Exposed? Late-Night Hotel Rendezvous with Belle Valden!]

Below the headline were several crystal-clear photos. In them, Jared wore that black custom suit I knew so well, striding into the entrance of a luxury hotel.

And beside him, Belle Valden wore a red deep-V gown, leaning intimately toward him. The two walked side by side, looking incredibly suggestive.

I stared at that photo, my heart sinking sharply as a nameless anger instantly surged up.

Belle? That woman who'd schemed against me time and again, who'd nearly destroyed my career? Jared had clearly promised me there wouldn't be other women around him, yet now he was making headlines with Belle?

Logic told me this was likely the media's misleading angles and speculation, or Aeneas deliberately trying to disgust me, attempting to drive a wedge between us with such dirty tactics.

From what I knew of Jared, he could never be interested in Belle.

But watching them walk into that hotel together, that uniquely female jealousy and irritation still wrapped around my heart like vines.

I bit my lip and dialed Jared's number again. Still no answer.

The unease in my heart grew, and I decisively pulled up his personal assistant's number and called.

This time, the phone was quickly answered.

"Mrs. Montclair..." The assistant's voice was very low, revealing barely concealed panic and trembling.

"Where's Jared? Why isn't he answering? What's going on with the news online?" I cut straight to the point, my tone cold.

"Mr. Montclair..." The assistant stammered, but suddenly extremely noisy arguing came through in the background.

"Lock down this information completely! If anyone leaks a single word, I'll skin them alive!" That was Aeneas's furious roar. "Contact Valentin immediately, have him come back to the company to take charge! The Rex family can't fall into chaos!"

"But Mr. Montclair's situation is very dangerous right now, we must let Mrs. Montclair know..." the assistant tried to argue.

"Shut up! What can that woman do besides cause trouble?!"

The phone was abruptly hung up.

Listening to the dial tone, all the blood in my body seemed to drain instantly, my hands and feet ice cold.

Dangerous situation? Valentin taking charge? That scandal was just a smokescreen! Something had happened to Jared!

Without a moment's hesitation, I immediately turned and rushed back to the hotel, randomly stuffing clothes into my suitcase while booking the next flight to New York at top speed.

In the taxi to the airport, night rain beat against the windows.

I forced myself to calm down and called Hannah.

"Sloane? Did you see the news?" Hannah answered, her tone grave.

"Forget the news, what happened to Jared?" I gripped my phone tightly, my knuckles white from the pressure.

Two seconds of silence on the other end, then Hannah's lowered voice came through. "Sloane, listen to me, you need to prepare yourself. The online scandal was deliberately released by someone to divert attention. The truth is, last night while Jared was in Brooklyn negotiating an extremely confidential project, he was attacked—brutally attacked."

"Attacked?" My heart clenched sharply, my breathing nearly stopped.

"Yes, they were going for his life. Although his bodyguards fought desperately to protect him, he was badly injured. He's still in the ICU at St. Grace Hospital being resuscitated, his life hanging in the balance." Hannah's voice carried a chill. "Aeneas has blocked all information. This attack was definitely not an accident. Jared's been cleaning out Valentin's influence within the company recently, moving too aggressively, touching too many people's interests. Some suspect... the mastermind is Valentin, and even that Aeneas tacitly approved."

But for his illegitimate son, for his so-called family balance, Aeneas could actually watch Jared die!

"I understand. I'm on my way to the airport now." My voice was hoarse, my eyes stinging painfully, yet not a single tear fell.

The dozen-plus hours of transoceanic flight were torture, every minute and second like slow death.

I sat in the first-class seat, looking at the pitch-black night sky outside the window, my mind filled with every moment since we'd met.

He'd shielded me from Aeneas's difficulties, held me in his arms in nighttime Boston, begged me with red-rimmed eyes to remarry him...

That man who was always so superior and untouchable had given me all his favoritism and tenderness.

I'd thought that as long as I was independent enough, as long as I stood high enough, I could avoid the Rex family's bloodbath. But I was wrong.

In this man-eating arena of fame and fortune, backing down doesn't bring peace.

They not only wanted to destroy me but also the only person who protected me.

I closed my eyes tightly, burying my face in my palms, my heart aching like knives cutting it.

Jared, you liar.

You clearly promised you'd be fine, you clearly said you'd wait for my triumphant return. If you dare die, I'll never forgive you.

I swore silently to myself that as long as he could get through this, as long as he could open his eyes and look at me once more.

To hell with capital, to hell with Aeneas, to hell with the Rex family.

When he wakes up, I'll remarry him immediately. I want to stand by his side legitimately, and together with him, step on every single person who tried to hurt us, grinding them all into hell.

The dozen-plus hours of flight left me nearly numb. When I landed in New York, the sky was pouring rain.

I didn't even grab my luggage, just took a cab straight to St. Grace Hospital.

Outside the ICU, the area was filled with Rex family bodyguards in black, the air thick with suffocating disinfectant smell and oppressive deathly silence.

Just as I tried to approach, two bodyguards expressionlessly extended their hands, blocking me firmly outside the corridor.

"Make her leave." An aged but venomous voice came from the bench area.

Aeneas slowly stood up, surrounded by bodyguards.

He looked down at me coldly, his eyes full of undisguised disgust and contempt. "Sloane, you really are like a ghost that won't go away. What, heard Jared had an accident and came running back to get a piece of the action?"

I bit my pale lower lip hard, suppressing the anxiety in my heart, trying to keep my voice steady. "Aeneas, I just want to see him once, to confirm he's out of danger, then I'll leave immediately."

"See him once? What gives you the right?" Aeneas laughed coldly, his cane striking the marble floor heavily. "You took five hundred million dollars in separation money from the Rex family, took the money so readily, then left without looking back. Now you're pretending to be devoted? A money-grubbing woman like you doesn't deserve to step foot in here!"