Chapter 1172:

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“Well, we did some investigating. Apparently that friend came back specifically to invite Eaton to his wedding next week. And here’s the interesting part — the bride is Eaton’s ex-girlfriend from his university days abroad.”

“I think the friend is just spreading malicious lies because he sees Eaton as a romantic rival.”

“Or maybe the bride-to-be hasn’t truly gotten over Eaton yet.”

The group continued chattering, their voices rising with excitement as the speculation grew more outlandish.

But Gracie’s frown only deepened.

When Eaton had needed an alibi for her fall into the water, he’d produced a photograph with this exact friend as proof of his whereabouts.

𝖲𝗍о𝗋іеs 𝗒𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝗼n’𝘵 𝗽𝗎𝘵 𝖽o𝘄ո 𝗈n 𝗴𝗮𝘭𝘯𝗈𝗏𝘦𝘭𝗌.𝗰𝘰𝗆

Something about that photograph had struck her as odd even then — the body language between the two men had seemed unusually intimate.

“What’s really going on here?” Gracie murmured to herself, pulling out her phone to compose a message to Janet.

“I need you to run a deep background check on someone…”

Outside the club, Conroy threw himself into his car and peeled out of the parking lot, too focused on the rescue operation to notice the sleek black Cullinan parked in the shadows across the street.

Inside the car, Eaton watched Conroy’s taillights disappear, his expression cold and merciless. “You weren’t supposed to be part of this. But you insisted on interfering. Don’t blame me for what comes next.”

His injured hand clenched into a fist, smearing blood across the pristine leather seat. “Once I succeed, none of this will matter. Everything will be undone — reset to the beginning.”

The assistant in the driver’s seat twisted around to face him. “Mr. Holt, should I drive to the resort? Our security team is still in active pursuit of the intruders.”

“Let them continue the pursuit. Tell them to do whatever it takes to recapture Jessie!”

Eaton leaned back against the leather headrest, his voice going cold and detached. “For now, drive me back to the office. I have more pressing matters that require my attention.”

The assistant’s eyes widened slightly with surprise. “But sir, Miss Holt knows you orchestrated the hospital fire…”

“She’s traumatized — probably suffering from smoke inhalation-induced delusions. It’s perfectly normal for trauma victims to make wild, unfounded accusations.” A cold smirk twisted Eaton’s lips. “Now, what about the investigation I assigned you?”

The assistant’s gaze dropped respectfully. “The police and medical examiner’s official ruling confirmed Theo Stanley’s death as suicide. His body was transferred to the morgue and subsequently claimed by family members.”

He hesitated. “However, according to my investigation, no one from the Stanley family actually retrieved the body. It’s simply… gone. Disappeared from the morgue. Our team has been unable to trace its current location.”

Eaton’s brow creased sharply with alarm. Without Theo’s actual body, how could he administer the Rebirth reagent?

A sudden thought struck him like lightning. “Arrange a prison visit for tomorrow morning. I need to speak with Lyndon Potter immediately.”

Late that night, after leaving the club, Gracie drove directly to the hospital.

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