Maureen had to lie and say she was on a business trip, and that she would be able to see them in about a month.
Ethan said pitifully, “Mommy, come back soon. It’s too lonely with just me, my brother, and Grandma.”
“Okay.”
After talking for a long time, she hung up.
Jacob said, “Mommy went back to Karaville.”
He quickly tracked down Maureen’s IP address.
Ethan was a bit curious: “What did Mommy go back to Karaville for?
Could it be that scumbag dad?”
Jacob didn’t say yes or no.
“Let’s mess with him good tonight.”
Jacob was trying to hack into Geoffrey’s private computer system, never expecting his own father would still be awake at this hour.
Geoffrey, unable to sleep, was handling work when he detected the unauthorized intrusion.
Watching the cursor move autonomously across the screen, his eyes narrowed. Fingers flew across the keyboard in rapid response.
Meanwhile, Jacob sat before his monitor, forehead covered in sweat.
Ethan leaned over beside him. “What’s wrong, bro?”
“Damn it, he found us.”
In that final moment, Jacob’s screen went completely black. His attempt to breach Geoffrey’s system had backfired–now he’d been hacked instead.
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Jacob was simply too young to match Geoffrey’s skills. Within moments, Geoffrey had traced their location.
“Looking to die.
”
The traced address showed overseas. Geoffrey forwarded it to Wayne.
“Take some people to investigate.”
Jacob slumped weakly. “Bastard!”
“Didn’t expect that bastard dad to actually have some skills.”
Ethan didn’t understand computers well, but he knew they were in deep trouble.
“We need to destroy the evidence before he gets here.”
Jacob shut down the computer.
Ethan’s voice trembled. “Aren’t we running?”
He’d seen Geoffrey’s temper before–getting caught meant being grounded for eternity.
During the time at Springwood, he was utterly bored.
“Don’t worry, he only got a big address and doesn’t know it’s us.”
“True, we’re just kids who only know how to play computer games.‘ Ethan went back to bed and covered himself with his little blanket.
Jacob was sleepy too, so he lay down on the bed next to him.
Because his body hurt a bit, Ethan hummed a song and fell asleep.
The days waiting for the divorce hearing dragged on forever. Maureen visited her father’s grave, swept away the snow around it, sat down, and gazed at his portrait.
“Dad, long time no see.”
Maureen took a deep breath and looked at the snow–covered mountains in the distance. “I remember you once told me to share everything with you–that you’d listen patiently no matter where you were.”
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“I came today to tell you I’m filing for divorce.”
“Honestly, I never imagined it would end this way.”
“So much has happened since you’ve been gone..”
Maureen spoke whatever came to mind, unaware of the person watching her from a black car nearby.
The man in the car coughed now and then, his face pale, one slender hand covered in needle marks.
“Alex, we should go.”
Alex gave a low “Mm,” withdrew his gaze, and slowly closed his eyes.
Maureen stayed at the cemetery a while longer before rising and walking out.
Before long, her phone rang. It was Justin.
He’d flown over shortly after she and Geoffrey returned days earlier.
“Ms. Ramirez, I just landed. Mr. Burke asked me to continue assisting you. Where are you now?”
Maureen sent him her location.
Justin arrived by car not long after.
Since Geoffrey had seen him before, he made no attempt to hide. “Two men at two o’clock and six o’clock.”
Maureen didn’t need to look to know they were Geoffrey’s people.
“Are you afraid?”
Justin paused.
“If you’re worried about Geoffrey, you don’t have to keep working for me. I’ll speak with Gareth.”
Maureen stated it plainly.
Justin didn’t answer. Instead, he started the engine. In the next instant, he almost hit a bodyguard hiding behind a building.
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That was his answer.
Justin turned the car around and stopped before Maureen. “Get in.”
Maureen hesitated no longer and took her seat.
“I’ll be troubling you from now on.
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Days earlier, after first seeing Justin, Geoffrey had ordered an investigation.
He’d learned this man was originally Gareth’s personal bodyguard, later assigned to protect Maureen.
Now, hearing from Maureen’s tail that he’d followed her to Karaville, Geoffrey frowned slightly.
“Are they living together now?”
Geoffrey remembered this bodyguard–refined features, eyes sharp with determination, unlike any typical guard.
“Madam stays at Katherine’s house. He sleeps in the car,” his subordinate answered.
Geoffrey’s brow smoothed. “Understood. Keep watching.”
“Yes, sir.
“1
Maureen’s divorce filing had proceeded in strict secrecy.
The public knew nothing, and no insider dared leak it–not with Geoffrey and the entire Sutton Group at stake.
Yet on the eve of the court hearing, an article titled “Fake–Death Heiress Sues for Divorce, Billions at Stake” rocketed to the top of trending topics.
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