Chapter 231 Scheming

Chapter 231 Scheming

The Maybach stopped outside the apartment complex gates. Thomas pulled open the door and slid into the back seat.

He leaned against the headrest, loosened his tie, and pulled out his phone to call Brent.

"I need you to look into something." Thomas's voice was hoarse.

On the other end, Brent immediately responded, "Go ahead, Mr. Stuart."

"The incident in Skyview City—Daniel getting beaten. Run through the details again. Specifically, who was really behind it." Thomas pinched the bridge of his nose. "And check what my mother did that day in Skyview City. Who she met, what she was up to."

Brent paused.

"Mr. Stuart, are you suspecting Mrs. Lorna Stuart?"

"She doesn't like Matilda, I know that." Thomas cut him off. "But she has boundaries. She'd go after Matilda directly at most. She wouldn't drive all the way to some backwater town to have Matilda's cousin's leg broken. That's beneath her."

"Understood. I'll get on it right away."

After hanging up, Thomas turned to look out the window.

The morning breeze drifted in, and his stomach twisted painfully.

Matilda's ice-cold expression refused to leave his mind.

Less than two hours later, Brent called back.

"Mr. Stuart, I found something."

Thomas hit accept.

"When Mrs. Lorna Stuart went to Skyview City, Miss Rose Gray was with her."

Thomas's fingers, holding a cigarette, froze.

"Rose?"

"Yes. Hotel surveillance shows Rose not only accompanied Mrs. Lorna Stuart to the hot springs but left on her own twice during that time. On the street where Daniel was attacked, Rose's driver was spotted in the area."

Thomas crushed the cigarette into the ashtray.

"Keep digging. Pull Rose's phone records and financial transactions for the past few days."

"Will do, Mr. Stuart."

......

Meanwhile, at an upscale billiards club in Harmony City.

Ethan straightened up, tossed his cue stick onto the table, and turned to look at Rose, who sat sulking on the sofa.

"Who are you making that face for?" Ethan walked over, grabbed a bottle of water from the table, and took a swig.

Rose pouted at him.

"Ethan, are you going to help me or not? What's so special about Matilda? Why does she get to keep Thomas all to herself? What does she have that I don't?"

Ethan studied her.

"You're better than her in every way. There are so many rich guys in Harmony City—you could pick one with your eyes closed and they'd worship the ground you walk on. Why does it have to be Thomas?"

"Because I want him!" Rose raised her voice. "My whole life, what have I ever wanted that I didn't get? Except Thomas! You have to help me get rid of that woman!"

Ethan winced at her volume and pulled out his cigarette case.

He stared at her for a long moment.

"Fine. If you're really set on this, I might have a solution."

Rose immediately scooted closer, grabbing his arm.

"What solution?"

Ethan blew out a smoke ring.

"Thomas is pretty straightforward about these things. If he actually sleeps with you, he won't just blow you off afterward. Once you two have slept together, Matilda won't matter anymore."

Rose froze, her cheeks flushing.

"But Thomas won't even let me get close to him normally."

"That's easy enough." Ethan stubbed out his cigarette. "Leave it to me."

That evening, at Blue Hour's VIP lounge.

Thomas sat in the corner, nursing a glass of hard liquor.

His mood had hit rock bottom today—all day long, all he could think about was how final Matilda had been when she'd kicked him out that morning.

Ethan pushed through the door with Rose trailing behind him.

Thomas glanced at them once but said nothing, tilting his head back to drain his glass.

"Thomas." Rose settled next to him, her voice syrupy sweet. "You should drink less. It's bad for your stomach."

Thomas shifted half an inch away, putting distance between them.

Ethan walked over and cracked open a bottle of whiskey, filling two glasses to the brim.

"Don't worry about him—he's in a mood tonight." Ethan slid a glass toward Thomas. "Come on, I'll drink with you. We're not stopping till we're wasted."

Thomas didn't refuse. He grabbed the glass and downed it in one gulp.

Glass after glass.

The liquor burned down his throat, and Thomas's consciousness began to blur.

Matilda's rejection played on repeat in his ears.

He grabbed the bottle and poured it straight into his mouth.

Half an hour later.

Thomas collapsed completely onto the sofa.

Ethan stood, kicked Thomas's shin lightly—no response.

He turned to Rose and pulled a keycard from his pocket, tossing it onto the table.

"Room 1208 upstairs. The rest is up to you. Don't waste my effort."

Rose snatched up the keycard, her fingers trembling with excitement.

"Thank you!"

Hotel room 1208.

Ethan dumped Thomas onto the king-sized bed, then turned and left, closing the door behind him.

Only Rose and the unconscious Thomas remained in the room.

Rose locked the door and walked to the bedside.

Thomas had loosened his collar, breathing heavily, his brow furrowed tight.

Rose's heart pounded wildly.

She stripped off her jacket and climbed onto the bed, reaching out to unbutton his shirt.

The moment she touched his chest, Thomas suddenly rolled over, swatting her hand away.

"Get lost." He kept his eyes closed, voice gravelly.

Rose bit down hard on her lip and moved closer again, pressing herself against him.

"Thomas, it's me."

Thomas's eyes snapped open.

The alcohol made it impossible for him to focus, but instinct told him something was wrong.

He grabbed Rose's shoulder and shoved her away hard.

Rose tumbled to the far side of the bed.

Thomas rolled to sitting position, his stomach churning violently.

He stumbled into the bathroom and hunched over the sink, dry heaving.

Rose sat on the bed, shaking with anger.

'He's this drunk and he still won't let me touch him!'

Hearing the sound of running water from the bathroom, Rose clenched her fists.

No. She couldn't let tonight go to waste.

She walked to the mirror and looked at her fair neck. She raised her hand and dug her nails hard into her collarbone and throat.

Angry red marks immediately bloomed across her pale skin.

The bathroom door opened.

Thomas splashed water on his face and stumbled out, swaying.

He didn't even glance at Rose—just collapsed back onto the bed, dead to the world.

Rose approached and yanked his shirt completely open, exposing his solid chest.

She stripped down to her underwear, slipped under the covers, and pressed herself tightly against Thomas.

After arranging everything, she grabbed Thomas's phone from the nightstand.

No password—it unlocked immediately.

She found Matilda's contact.

Her fingers flew across the screen.

[Want to know what really happened to Daniel's leg? Come to Blue Hour, room 1208. You'll find your answers here.]

She hit send.

Then Rose placed the phone back where she'd found it, nestled closer into Thomas's arms, and smiled triumphantly.

'Matilda, let's see how you compete with me now. I'm going to make you watch Thomas in my bed with your own eyes and crush whatever hope you have left,' she thought.