Bait for a Gentleman novel Chapter 112

Silence hung on the other end of the line.

Zachary pressed on. "I just had a round of talks with her, and we added a few clauses to the agreement. I just sent the revised version to your phone. Look it over for her."

"Fine," Sebastian replied concisely, his tone devoid of any major emotional fluctuation.

The sudden quiet that followed was a strange, unspoken understanding between the two men.

After a moment, Zachary finally figured out how to voice the question gnawing at him.

"Are you two together?"

The metallic click of a lighter echoed from Sebastian's side before he spoke. "Do you even hear what you're saying?"

"Then tell me why you issued that statement for her," Zachary challenged. "Since when does a firm the size of Everest Law Group care about some minor rumor mill involving a client? And the trending searches—you squashed them for her, didn't you?"

"Ms. Monroe is my client," Sebastian stated. "When a client is defamed, Everest has an obligation to clear their name. As for the trending searches—"

He paused, calmly exhaling a plume of smoke. "Zachary, you bought those search terms to smear your own fiancée. Do you really think you have the moral high ground here? That was Willow's car, and you know damn well you looked into it."

Zachary didn't answer. His reflection in the windowpane wore an ugly expression.

"Forget it." He turned around, leaning his back against the windowsill. "I just never thought you and I would end up here over a woman."

Sebastian countered smoothly, "Legally speaking, she is an independent individual first, a woman second, and your fiancée last. Ask yourself, since the day you got engaged, have you ever actually respected her?"

He thought of the photo Carter had sent him—Audrina slumped over the table, her face completely buried in her arms.

It was a still image, yet he could feel her trembling. Crying until she couldn't breathe, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.

A man who couldn't even respect her didn't deserve a single one of her tears.

And he certainly didn't deserve to stand beside her.

"Zachary, you're the one who messed up."

He read through it line by line.

The equity transfer—perfect. The separation clause—flawless.

Sebastian lifted his chin slightly, a faint smile ghosting across his lips.

Until he scrolled to the "Confidentiality Obligations" section.

[Confidentiality Scope: Both parties agree that the contents of this agreement and the dissolution of the engagement are confidential. Neither party shall disclose this information to any third party (including but not limited to relatives, friends, colleagues, or the media).]

[Special Obligations: To ensure Mr. Waldo Sutton's physical health and mental peace, both parties commit to maintaining the illusion of an ongoing engagement in his presence. This includes, but is not limited to, attending family gatherings, holiday celebrations, and other necessary occasions as an engaged couple, and maintaining cooperative behavior.]

Sebastian's eyes locked onto those lines. He didn't scroll any further, and the smile vanished completely from his eyes.

Zachary said Audrina agreed to this?

With that thought, he picked up his phone and dialed a number.