Chapter 1182:

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Zane stood by the entrance, watching the scene with a guarded expression. He tracked Eaton’s quick, purposeful stride as he carried the human-shaped object toward the door.

“Out late — what have you been up to?” Zane asked.

Eaton, usually the picture of gentleness, shot him a look of cold warning. “Don’t ask about things that don’t concern you. Remember your place here.”

Without another word, Eaton disappeared into the basement.

Zane’s brow furrowed, a flash of malice crossing his features. “So, you’re still keeping me at arm’s length. This whole arrangement was nothing but a pretense to watch me. Eaton, if you stand in the way of my plans, I won’t hesitate to remove you!”

Meanwhile, at Brayden’s insistence, Gracie had returned to the Stanley estate.

As she passed Valeria’s villa, the sound of shattering glass and shouting stopped her in her tracks. “Get out! All of you, get out!”

Gracie’s expression tightened as she pushed the door open.

The interior was a wreck; debris from broken ornaments littered the floor.

Yо𝗎𝘳 ո𝖾x𝘁 𝗳𝖺vorі𝗍𝗲 rеa𝖽 𝗂𝗌 o𝗇 𝗀a𝗅ո𝗼𝘷𝘦𝘭𝗌.𝘤om

Valeria was in the center of the chaos, mid-frenzy, screaming as she hurled objects against the walls.

“Thank goodness you’re here!” a maid said, rushing over with a face full of dread.

Noticing Gracie, Valeria turned her rage toward her. She charged, eyes wild. “What are you doing here? Are you here to stop me again?”

The maid quickly stepped between them to shield Gracie. “Please! She’s pregnant!”

“Move!” Valeria snarled, trying to shove her aside.

Gracie didn’t hesitate. She pulled a small tranquilizing spray from her pocket and aimed it directly at Valeria.

With a quick mist, Valeria’s body went limp, her aggression vanishing instantly. The maid caught her before she hit the floor.

“What happened to her?” the maid asked breathlessly.

“She was dangerously unstable. The spray will keep her calm for now,” Gracie said. “Get her to her room. Once she’s settled, come back down — I have questions.”

The maid nodded and carefully helped Valeria upstairs.

Left alone on the sofa, Gracie’s expression grew grim.

Valeria’s behavior felt hauntingly familiar, echoing incidents from the past.

Yet, the staff had been vetted with exhaustive rigor; everyone currently on the estate was documented as loyal.

Who could have reached Valeria? And how?

When the maid returned a short while later, Gracie looked up.

“Did she have any visitors today? And is there any food left over from her meals?” Gracie asked, her tone serious.

“She didn’t touch her dinner, but I kept it in the kitchen in case she wanted it later,” the maid replied.

The maid hurried to the kitchen and returned with the untouched tray. Gracie pulled several specimen bags from her purse and systematically sampled the food.

“Watch her closely tonight,” Gracie instructed. “I have to leave.”

As she walked toward her car, Gracie dialed Zane’s number. “Where are you? Get to my place. I have a sample that needs to go to the lab immediately.”

About an hour later, a taxi rolled to a stop outside the Stanley estate.

The moment Zane got out, he spotted Gracie waiting near the front gate.

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