Chapter 181 Who the Hell Is Working Against Him

• Yael Booker jolted like he’d been shocked and snapped back to himself. His brows knitted tight, and there was a look he couldn’t quite put into words. “We checked, but… but all we found was that Bannister Group’s pharma arm suddenly took off two years ago. The rest of the trail looks deliberately scrubbed. We couldn’t get anything else useful.” “Got it.” Reilly Schulze shut her eyes and emptied her mind. She’d expected as much. Bannister Group was old money; if they didn’t have this kind of pull, that would be the real surprise. Which also meant this lead was basically toast. She’d have to come at it from another angle. Her chest felt tight. Through the car window, Reilly Schulze stared into the distance. Ms. Gorin, who did this to you? She pulled her gaze back and slipped into her usual ice-cold state. Her fist clenched. Her heart felt a little hollow. “Yael, tell Attorney Li it’s time to put some pressure on the Lundberg family.” Moonlight spilled cold across the ground, like a thin layer of silver frost. Three days vanished in a blur. Reilly Schulze was juggling the Lundberg mess, Mimi’s situation, and the lab’s timeline. She’d dropped a whole size. When Hector Schulze came to pick her up, he almost didn’t recognize her. “What happened to you? You’ve run yourself ragged.” “I’m fine. It’s late. Let’s go.” Reilly Schulze was bone-tired and had zero interest in small talk. She hauled her heavy body into the car and slumped into the seat, drifting off. “Hey, wake up. We’re here.” A gentle voice brushed her ear. Reilly Schulze blinked herself awake. For a second, light and shadow mixed with an old memory. As her mind cleared, she shot forward, heart lurching. Cold sweat slipped down her back before she even noticed. “You okay?” Hector Schulze was startled by her sudden jolt. His brows pinched, a hint of displeasure in his eyes. Reilly Schulze just shook her head, tamping down the weird feeling. “Let’s head in. It’s late.” The auction was running alongside a high-end jewelry show; the vibe and layout were top-tier. She handed over the invite and walked inside. Without realizing it, she slowed, drawn in by the decor. Her thoughts drifted far away, so far she didn’t notice someone had stepped up beside her. “Miss, you’re into this piece?” A voice came out of nowhere. Reilly Schulze whipped around. A tall figure stood behind her. The man wore a metal mask etched with spider lily lines—glossy and blooming, dangerously pretty. “Tom Bannister. Why are you here?” The voice had sounded familiar, and the spider lily gave him away. Tom had planned to keep pretending, but once he saw he’d been made, he only shrugged and took off the mask, revealing that bold, aggressive face. “Lame. I really thought I could fool you this time, but you caught me again. Happens every damn time. Boring.” “You’re tailing me?” Wherever she went, Tom somehow turned up. If she kept telling herself it was chance, that’d be truly dumb. “No way… okay, fine. Maybe a little.” He tried to play it off, but under Reilly Schulze’s cool stare, he swallowed the rest. Knowing he was in the wrong, Tom dropped his head, like a kid who’d messed up, ready to take the scolding. “Tom, you know this—I hate it when people try to run my life.” “That’s not what I meant. I just… I just…” His voice faded. No answer for a long beat. Tom couldn’t hold it in and lifted his head—only to meet an arctic gaze. It’d been a while since he’d seen Reilly Schulze like this. Panic flared in his chest, and he spoke fast. “Let me explain.” “Tom, I don’t ever want to see you monitoring me again.” “You got it. Never again.” Tom looked like a drowning man who’d found a single beam of light. He nodded hard. Seeing Reilly Schulze wasn’t going to press the point, he finally exhaled. But Reilly Schulze had already turned toward a familiar silhouette up front. Ford Bannister had brought Elena Lundberg and taken prime seats. A stunning couple—easy on the eyes, too damn perfect. Elena, in a white dress, leaned into Ford. He ruffled her hair, and the warmth in his eyes practically overflowed. “Still worried?” Tom’s voice slid in, darker now. Reilly Schulze glanced away, refusing to watch that scene. With no answer, Tom walked closer. He studied her face, a touch of sadness clouding his eyes. “There are tons of men out there. What’s worth clinging to? I don’t buy that anything’s truly unforgettable.” “I know.” Reilly Schulze pressed her lips together, not in the mood for Tom’s sermon. She took a breath and turned around. She hadn’t even started to speak when a figure stepped in front of her. Elena Lundberg—who should’ve been sitting up front with Ford—had somehow wandered over. “Reilly Schulze, what are you doing here? Didn’t you say you wouldn’t chase Ford anymore? Don’t tell me you changed your mind.” “What, did the auction stamp your names on the door? No one else can come? Or do you have the pull to buy out the whole hall so no one else gets in?” Reilly Schulze crossed her arms and arched a brow at Elena. Honestly, it was kind of funny. Elena’s face fell hard, her features knotting up. She wanted to speak, but nothing came. She clenched her molars and glared daggers at Reilly. Then her eyes flicked to Ford, and her face lit up with a smile. She smoothed a lock of hair down her chest, her voice turning smug. “Just admit it. Watching me with Ford must sting.” “Such a pity—you tried so hard, but Ford likes me. Kinda makes me feel bad for you.” “Don’t worry, though. I’ll take good care of him for you.” Elena’s smile stretched wider as she lifted her chin high. But the pride froze on her face almost immediately. “Elena, your cheap tricks don’t cut it with me. Why should I care about two people who hurt me? Not just you. Ford, too. You both just make me sick.” A steady voice, laced with a thread of mockery, came in. Ford Bannister walked up slow and took his place behind Elena. He set his fingers at her arm, all protective stance.