"Nadine..."


    Bryant''s voice lingered over her name, as if tasting the sybles for the first time.


    Nadine couldn''t bring herself to meet his piercing gaze, fearing that her facade would crumble under the weight of his scrutiny. Then, Bryant chuckled —a sound that sent shivers down her spine-and demanded, "Who sent you?"


    It was clear to Bryant that she was a pawn, sent by someone with a hidden agenda-a y for profit, because in his world, nobody made a move without an incentive.


    Nadine hadn''t expected Bryant to be so astute, to see right through her with barely a nce. Her face paled as she took a deep breath and repeated the lie she had prepared.


    "I''m just here on a part-time job. Nobody sent me..."


    "Miss White."


    Bryant''s legs were crossed, a cigarette dangling between his lips as he leaned forward, his jawline sharp against the dimly lit room. His voice was a low growl, "Since you''re here, you know who I am. Anything your backer can find on me, I can find on them. Anything they can offer you, I can match. Let''s just say, I''m known for not ying nice when I''m crossed. So, if you don''t start talking, my patience will run thin." Hearing this, Nadine felt a cold sweat break out. She bit her lip, weighing her options before deciding to betray ric.


    Under Bryant''s intense aura, she felt cornered, with no other choice but to face him and confess, "It was ric."


    She had no illusions about continuing to hide the truth; someone like Bryant could easily uncover any secret. Rather than futile resistance, she chose to bet everything on Bryant, who seemed infinitely more reliable than ric.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    Bryant frowned, not immediately cing the name, "ric?"


    "Brother..."


    York Carlson, seething with anger and already plotting revenge on ric, reluctantly spoke up, "That''s my cousin''s boyfriend, the one you met at the barst week. He''s been eyeing our medical project."


    "I never imagined he''d be bold enough to make a move on it!"


    Everyone knew Bryant was a force to be reckoned with, fiercely protective of those close to him. Crossing him, especially using someone from his past as bait, was a guaranteed path to ruin.


    To the astute observer, it was clear Nadine was a stand-in for someone Bryant once held dear, chosen for her natural resemnce and the same aloof demeanor.


    Bryant ashed his cigarette, not acknowledging York''s input, and turned to Nadine, "Where''s ric now? Waiting in the car park?"


    He wouldn''t have set this trap without nning to see it through.


    Nadine guessed, "Probably in his car."


    York, catching Bryant''s silentmand, left and returned shortly, dragging ric by the cor and tossing him to the floor with a solid kick. Nadine recoiled at the violence, watching ric re at her with undisguised hatred.


    Without blinking, Bryant''s cold voice filled the room, "ric, correct?"


    "Yes, yes!"


    ric scrambled to his feet, hobbling towards Bryant with a sycophantic smile, "Mr. Ferguson, we''ve met before."


    "And her," Bryant nodded towards Nadine, "you arranged this?"


    Regret twisted ric''s features. Desperate to secure a deal that was slipping through his fingers, he had underestimated Bryant. He scrambled for an exnation, trying to dress up his scheme in a less offensive light, "Mr. Ferguson, Sir, it was when I saw how deeply you felt for Ms. Webster. I''ve known the pain of unrequited love myself, and I empathized too much, I guess. I thought a stand-in might offer some temporary sce, though it''s no real solution, just... a distraction from the loneliness at night."


    Hisugh was an attempt to lighten the mood, "And who knows? If Ms. Webster still holds any affection for you, seeing another woman by your side might prompt her to reconsider her feelings, perhaps even bring her back to you."