Chapter 218

The penthouse suite of The Regal Palace was bathed in dim golden light.

Caroline Sinclair moaned dramatically as she rode President Kingsley with practiced enthusiasm. "Oh god, you're incredible...how do you do this to me?"

"Say it again, sweetheart," Kingsley growled, gripping her hips.

Caroline forced another breathy moan, counting the seconds until this disgusting old man would finish. Sacrificing her dignity was just another step toward becoming News Director.

Just as Kingsley's grip tightened—

BANG!

The door exploded inward.

Caroline shrieked and scrambled off him, yanking the sheets over herself. Kingsley fumbled for his boxers, face draining of color when he saw who stood in the doorway.

His wife.

"Is this the little whore you've been fucking behind my back?"

Mrs. Kingsley loomed over them—taller than most men, muscles flexing as she rolled up her sleeves. Caroline trembled.

"I expected a seductress," Mrs. Kingsley sneered. "But you? Pathetic. You look like a drowned rat. My husband has terrible taste."

Before Caroline could react, Mrs. Kingsley seized her hair and yanked—

SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!

Blood sprayed from Caroline's split lip.

"President Kingsley! Help me!" she wailed.

He didn't move. He was too busy kneeling like a dog.

Mrs. Kingsley's assistant marched in with two bodyguards, live-streaming the entire scene on his phone. "Come see! Homewrecker caught red-handed!"

Caroline's stomach dropped.

"Smith," Mrs. Kingsley snarled. "Remember who paid your debts when you were bankrupt. Who funded your first company. Without me, you'd be nothing."

"I'm nothing," Kingsley whimpered.

Caroline sobbed into her hands. How had they been caught? Two years of secrecy—ruined in one night.

The beating that followed was brutal. Kingsley was dragged out half-naked. Caroline curled into a ball, missing a tooth, face swollen.

"You're wondering how I found out." Mrs. Kingsley leaned down, smirking. "Think hard, sweetheart. Who did you piss off recently?"

The door slammed shut.

Silence.

Caroline's mind raced. Then—

Evadne.

Her phone buzzed. An email with an audio attachment.

Kevin's voice filled the room, detailing every secret she'd whispered to him—how she'd manipulated him into stealing the K World Hotel's bidding documents.

Exposed.

Her phone clattered to the floor.

Caroline collapsed, world spinning.

Meanwhile, Glynnis Vanderbilt soaked in her marble tub, scowling at her reflection.

That idiot Mari. Why did Evadne protect her? And now Jareth was involved?

She grabbed her lipstick and scrawled MARI across the mirror, then viciously crossed it out. "After I'm General Manager, you're next."

Her phone rang.

Edith's name flashed. Glynnis forced a sweet tone. "Edith, darling! What's—"

"Evadne found the mole. He's in police custody."

Glynnis's grip tightened. "What about Caroline?"

"Have you seen the news? Mrs. Kingsley live-streamed catching Caroline in bed with her husband. It's everywhere."

Glynnis's blood ran cold.

"Delete all messages with Caroline. Now."

Another call beeped—her secretary. "Miss Sinclair was in a car accident. Critical condition."

Glynnis nearly laughed. "Perfect."

"Perfect?!"

"An accident means she can't talk. Evadne can't trace this back to us." Glynnis smirked. "Let her rot in that hospital."

Evadne selected a bottle of Bordeaux from her wine cellar.

Jason steadied the ladder. "Caroline's accident was...convenient."

"Karma," Evadne said coolly.

Mrs. Kingsley's revenge had been brutal. Evadne understood—she'd been betrayed too.

"Glynnis must be relieved," Jason mused.

"Let her enjoy it while she can."

Her phone rang.

Jareth.

Evadne groaned. "The idiot strikes again."