I Told You To Run But You Didn't (Georgia) novel Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Georgia’s POV

Finished

“But she’s just an ordinary employee,” Lucas argued desperately into the phone. “Why would you terminate the entire investment plan just because she left?!”

He listened to the answer on the other end, his face slowly draining of color. With a sigh of complete frustration, he ended the call.

Fatima and Jasmine immediately descended on him. “What happened? What did they say?” they asked in unison.

Lucas ignored them, his eyes finding me where I stood on the stairs. “Everyone, leave,” he commanded, his voice strained. “I need a moment alone with Georgia.”

A pair of malicious, triumphant smiles spread across Fatima’s and Jasmine’s faces. They clearly thought he was about to put all the blame on me and were eager for the show.

They scurried out of the living room, disappearing into another part of the ridiculously huge villa.

from his grasp. “What do you

Lucas stormed up the stairs and grabbed my arm. I instantly ripped it away from his grasp. want from me?”

“You quit,” he accused, his voice low and furious, “and Horizon Capital immediately ceased all funding. Did you collude with them? Is this your way of taking revenge on me?!”

I turned and walked back downstairs, needing to be on solid ground for this conversation. He followed me, his footsteps heavy with anger. I placed my bag on the coffee table and faced him, my expression calm. “Alright. Let’s talk.”

“Answer me, Gia!” he demanded.

“I don’t have the power to conspire with a massive firm like Horizon Capital,” I said evenly. “If they withdrew their investment, it’s because they no longer see potential in the project. It’s that simple.”

“Then why,” he shot back, “did Mr. Grayson specifically say that the investment was terminated because you resigned?”

I was taken aback for a second, but then it all clicked into place. Horizon Capital’s initial interest in the project meant they would have done a thorough background check on everyone involved. They weren’t investing in Sterling Pharmaceutical; they were investing in me. They knew about my past achievements, my expertise in chemical technology from my time in the military, and my work as a covert operations officer.

To them, I wasn’t just an “ordinary employee.” I was the entire asset.

“It seems the investors don’t see any value in Jasmine’s abilities,” I stated calmly.

The door flew open, revealing Jasmine, who had clearly been eavesdropping. She glared at me, her face flushed with outrage. “What’s that supposed to mean? I let you have some shady deal going on with the investors!” A flash of malice crossed her eyes. “Maybe you slept with one of them to get them to agree!”

I scowled. The audacity of this woman was breathtaking

Lucas frowned, though his defense was weak. “Jasmine, don’t spout nonsense.”

Chapter 18

སཛཱ 67% _

Finished

“I’m not!” Jasmine protested, her voice rising. “Lucas, they withdrew their funding the second she resigned! It’s obvious something fishy is going on. I bet she slept with them! I bet she cheated on you!”

Lucas fell silent. He turned his gaze on me, his eyes filled with a new, troubling uncertainty.

Facing his scrutinizing stare, I asked him directly, “Do you believe her?”

He hesitated, then deflected. “Then you tell me. Why would they pull out their investment just because you resigned? Is it because you…?” He left the words unspoken, but his meaning was crystal clear.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. Four years. One year of dating, three years of marriage. In all that time, we’d been nothing more than a boss and an employee. We had never even consummated our marriage. And still, after all of that, this was the low opinion he had of me. He didn’t trust me at all.

“Lucas, look at her! She’s clearly feeling guilty!” Jasmine pressed, seeing her advantage.

I stifled my bitter laugh, my gaze turning icy as I stared directly at Jasmine. “Are you absolutely certain that I slept with someone from Horizon Capital?”

“Yes, I’m sure!” Jasmine declared, lifting her chin proudly.

“Alright,” I said, my voice dangerously calm. “Don’t forget what you just said.” I pulled out my phone and immediately dialed the emergency number. “Hello? I need to report a crime. I believe I was sexually

absolutely certain it

assaulted… Yes, that’s right. And there’s a witness, my husband’s sister. She says, eve I was sexually

happened…”

Jasmine’s and Lucas’s faces went pale with shock. Lucas unged forward and snatched the phone from my hand, quickly stammering to the operator that it was all a terrible misunderstanding before ending the call. He turned on me, his eyes blazing with anger. “Have you lost your mind?!”

“If your sister was so certain, wasn’t it my duty to call the police?” I retorted, raising an eyebrow.

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