Chapter 46

Sebastian turned to Rodger, his face full of confusion. "Rodger, what's going on?"

The way Rodger reacted seemed completely out of place.

"Don't get upset, Rodger. Sebastian said 'he,'not 'she,'" Violet murmured, even as her own heart ached so badly she could hardly breathe.

"Tyrone's the one who died?" Rodger finally let go of Sebastian's collar, smoothing the fabric with a quick apology. "Sorry, it's not Emilia's life I was worried about."

Sebastian narrowed his eyes. "Then why are you so agitated? Are you actually worried about Tyrone?" He studied Rodger closely, unsure what to make of it.

Rodger and Emilia had spent three years under the same roof. Even if he had never shown her any kindness, who could say there were no feelings left? Only someone as gentle as Violet deserved a place in the Mitchell family. Emilia,with all her plotting and games, had no right to remain as Rodger's wife.

"So, how did Tyrone die?" Rodger ignored Sebastian's question, shifting the subject with a tense look. It was so abnormal that he lost his mind over Emilia's death.

"They're saying there was a gang fight, and Tyrone was caught in it," Sebastian explained,his voice straightforward.

Violet's hands balled into fists, and her teeth clenched tight. Somehow, Emilia always managed to slip away unharmed.

Even so, Violet forced a look of soft concern onto her face, her words dripping with practiced sweetness. "Is Emilia alright?"

With a frustrated shake of his head, Sebastian replied, "She's completely fine. Not even a bruise."

Violet let out a long, fake sigh of relief. "That's a relief."

Truthfully,Violet wished nothing more than for Emilia to meet a miserable end. The way Rodger lost his composure earlier proved he felt something for Emilia, even if he refused to acknowledge it. If he ever discovered that Emilia had been the one who rescued him all those years ago, Emilia believed that everything she had worked for would be threatened. She could not let that happen. Whatever feelings Rodger had for Emilia needed to be wiped out completely.

A flash of malice passed through Violet's eyes as she made up her mind.

Sebastian turned to Rodger, voicing what was on his mind. "Rodger, are you sure there's nothing between you and Emilia?"

Rodger locked eyes with Violet and spoke with unusual gentleness. "Don't listen to him, Violet.You're the only woman I could ever care for."

Violet kept her voice low and trusting. "I believe you."

Sebastian gave Rodger a warning look. "You'd better not, Rodger. Violet saved your life. She deserves your loyalty."

Rodger squeezed Violet's hand in reassurance."I haven't forgotten," he replied.

Yet, in that moment, a strange thought crept into his mind; he had never held Emilia's hand with the same tenderness.

Before he could linger on that idea, Sebastian broke the silence.

"You know, I have a theory about Emilia. I think she's a plant from Webster. She can drive like a professional, and she's got fighting skills, but she kept that all hidden. Thanks to her, we lost twenty percent of our shares, and then she handed them straight to Webster. There's definitely something suspicious going on there."1

Rodger's expression hardened at once. The worry he had felt over Emilia's possible death was instantly replaced with fury. Rage burned inside him at the thought of her betrayal.

Looking back, he felt duped, and his anger made him want to erase every memory of her.The possibility that Emilia had been Webster's spy all along left him reeling.