Chapter 7 11 288 Vouchers Chapter 7 The next day, news of the Jackson group's bankruptcy exploded like a bomb, sending shockwaves through Miami's business world. Maria sat in her office, her heart calm as still water. "Maria, Gregory has been waiting downstairs for six hours." The assistant reported cautiously, her voice tinged with hesitation. Maria swirled her wine glass, ice cubes clinking crisply. "Let him wait." The three words were uttered lightly, yet they made the office temperature plummet. Suddenly, torrential rain lashed outside, bean-sized drops smacking the floor-to-ceiling windows with sharp cracks. Maria looked down at Gregory, drenched to the bone. He wore only a thin white shirt today, plastered to his skinny frame by the downpour. No umbrella, no shelter-just stubbornly standing in the deluge like an abandoned stray. "He's learned to play the victim." Maria sneered, draining her wine glass in one gulp. Alcohol burned her throat but couldn't quench the fury simmering inside. The assistant hesitated: "Security says Gregory keeps apologizing-swears he won't leave without seeing you." "Then let him keep standing." Maria turned toward her desk, slamming the empty glass down. "Right, notify security. If he dares trespass, call the police immediately." The assistant gasped but nodded. "Yes, Ms. Perez." Outside the window, rain poured down relentlessly until Gregory finally collapsed onto the pavement. I stared for a long moment before suddenly grabbing my coat and striding toward the elevator. "Ms. Perez?" 0.0 % 12:32 Chapter 7 The assistant followed in surprise. "Get the car ready," I commanded coldly. "Through the underground garage.' The assistant hesitated. "Aren't you going to see Gregory?" "See him?" I scoffed, eyes darkening. "He's not worth it." The elevator doors slid shut, sealing off the disheveled figure outside. Three days later, at Grand Hotel in Miami. I was negotiating with international investment bankers when the private room door burst open. Gregory stood there, face deathly pale, bloodshot eyes burning crimson. "Maria, I need to speak with you." His voice rasped like shattered glass, fingers clawing his suit hem until knuckles turned blue. The room fell silent, bankers exchanging uneasy glances. I dabbed my lips deliberately, signaling my assistant to escort them out. "My apologies. A private matter requires attention." My apology was impeccably polite, my voice as cold as ice. When only the two of us remained in the private room, Gregory finally broke down in tears. "Ashley lied to me." He stumbled toward me, lunging to grab my hands, but I sidestepped and avoided his touch. "Oh?" So he'd finally discovered Ashley's schemes. I raised an eyebrow, my tone dripping with sarcasm. "Weren't you soulmates? What happened? Did the hypocrite slip up?" Tears streamed down Gregory's face as he shakily pulled a stack of documents from his bag. "She did all this behind my back." I brushed them aside with my hand. I'd warned him about this long ago. 會 288 Vouchers Ashley had secretly transferred all assets under Gregory's name and even took out loans from sharks using his identi- 35.1 % 12:32 Chapter 7 Those so-called "investment projects" were nothing but fronts for money laundering. 1288 Vouchers The cruelest irony lay in the intimate photos tucked within the files-shots of Ashley with other men, spanning from before their "great love story" until now. And he'd been foolish enough to only realize it today. "So?" I tossed the documents back into his lap, my voice unnervingly calm. "Is this why you betrayed me?" Gregory knelt on the floor, choking out between sobs: "I'm sorry... I truly know I was wrong." "Do you know where I found her?" I looked down at him. He shook his head blankly, tears still streaming down his face. "In another man's bed." I curved my lips mockingly, "Spending your money while losing fifty million dollars overnight at Monte Carlo Casi- no in another man's arms." "Had I not intercepted her passport, she'd have fled overseas with your assets by now." Gregory froze as if struck by lightning. "No... impossible." I leaned down, casting him an icy glance. "Gregory, your taste is truly appalling." His pupils contracted violently, lips trembling without uttering a word. Releasing my grip, I picked up a napkin to wipe my fingers as if touching something dirty. "Get out. Stop disgracing yourself here." 71.7 % 12:32