The Wrong Girl and the Wronged Girl (Stella and Ethan) novel Chapter 725

Chapter 725 Collapse of Trust

No–Dan wasn’t just guessing. He was certain.

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For days Marie had hounded him for answers, and now Victor had joined in. He had carried this burden long enough–shouldering blame for something he despised most.

And he was done.

Manny’s voice cracked with fury. “You call it shouldering blame? That mother and daughter were clearly taken by you!”

Dan’s eyes slid toward Artemis, his words like a blade. “Lana and Lina went to kill that woman’s daughter. Madam, wasn’t it you who ordered Manny to take them away?”

Artemis: “.”

Dale: “…”

་་

The study froze, silence cutting sharper than any shout.

Dale’s pupils shrank as he swung his gaze to Artemis. Her heart lurched at Dan’s accusation.

Dale rasped, “What did he say? Lana and Lina—‘

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“They stormed Victor’s villa to kill Diana’s daughter. No–more likely to capture her, to use as leverage against Diana, isn’t that right?”

Dan turned his sneer on Manny. “After all, not long ago, you were locked in open conflict with Diana.”

Then his gaze returned to Dale. “Or was it you who wanted to use Tessa to threaten her?”

Dale’s breath grew ragged.

His glare bore down on Manny, who stiffened. “Father, it wasn’t me!”

Then Dale’s eyes shifted to Artemis.

Her chest tightened under the weight of his stare. “Dale… you don’t believe me?”

Dan’s words had detonated inside the room.

Whatever trust Dale had once held–whether real or feigned, whether for Dan or Manny or Artemis–collapsed in an instant beneath the pressure of Ashen Pact’s crisis.

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Chapter 725 Collapse of Trust

Tears streaked Artemis’s face. “Manny and I didn’t take Diana and her daughter.”

Manny pleaded, “Father, this is Dan framing us!”

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Dan only laughed coldly. “Frame you? No. I prefer schemes that let Diana gnaw your bones clean. Why would I need to kidnap her myself?”

Manny: “…”

་་ “1

Dale: “…”

The venom in Dan’s words chilled Dale’s heart.

When had this son become so alien to him?

Once, he had followed at his heels, calling him Father in that soft, boyish voice.

Now, all Dale saw in his eyes was mockery.

Dan leaned back in his chair, smoke curling from his cigar. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. They won’t leave without her.”

Manny snapped, “You did take them! You’re set on destroying Ashen Pact. You can’t have it, so you’ll drag us all into the grave with you!”

Their shouts collided, each more vicious than the last.

Dan was certain Dale and Artemis had taken the women.

Manny was certain Dan had, scheming with the Dawsons and the Toms to burn everything down.

And Dale…

Once he had trusted Artemis and Manny without hesitation. Now suspicion gnawed at him too.

If Dan had taken them, it was to ruin Ashen Pact.

If Manny had taken them, then perhaps it was jealousy–women’s grudges flaring to blood.

The study rang with chaos.

Dan stood, flicking ash to the floor. “I won’t carry this any longer. If Ashen Pact burns, so be it.”

He strode out, leaving only the reek of smoke behind.

“Father!” Manny cried after him.

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Chapter 725 Collapse of Trust

“Enough!”

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Dale’s chest heaved with fury, his glare cutting to Manny. “Tell me the truth. Was it you?”

Never before had he spoken to Manny like this. Out of love for Artemis, he had always wrapped the boy in indulgence.

But now, his voice was raw, sharp, merciless.

Manny staggered back. “You don’t believe me?”

Artemis’s face crumpled in tears. “Dale, how can you treat us this way?”

Dale clutched his temples, gasping for breath. “Understand this–if those two women die, Ashen Pact won’t just be finished. None of us will survive.”

“But it wasn’t us!” Manny insisted, desperation in his eyes. Artemis, too, stared at Dale, wide- eyed and wounded.

His chest heaved. “Then explain Lana and Lina!”

At their names, guilt flickered in Artemis’s eyes.

She had sent them.

When Diana first returned, she had feared she’d come to reclaim Dale’s heart–and to avenge the child she’d lost.

So Artemis had struck first.