The Wrong Girl and the Wronged Girl (Stella and Ethan) novel Chapter 742

Chapter 742 Web of Suspicions

Manny opened his mouth again. “But he-”

“Out!” Dale’s roar cracked like thunder.

A 668

Finished

Mother and son froze. They exchanged a look, then swallowed their words and left the study in

silence.

Alone, Dale pressed his fingers hard into his temples, forcing his breath to steady.

After a moment, he picked up the phone and dialed.

“Sir,” came the prompt voice on the other end.

“Keep Manny and Dan under watch,” Dale ordered grimly. “Search everyone around them. Leave no stone unturned.”

He had never fully trusted Dan. But now–even Manny, his own son, was no longer above suspicion.

All he wanted was to find Tessa and throw her into Marie’s hands.

That girl had become a curse, dragging the Ashen Pact to the brink of ruin.

“Yes, sir.”

“Wait.” Dale’s voice cut in just before the line went dead.

“Search around Madam as well. Quietly.”

There was a pause of stunned silence on the line before the man replied, “Understood.”

For years, no matter his doubts, Dale had never once turned suspicion on Artemis–the woman he loved.

Now, even she was not spared.

Outside the study, Manny and Artemis walked together, both wearing grim expressions.

“You put men on Dan,” Artemis snapped.

She could still feel the sting of Marie’s ruthless tactics from yesterday. Best to find Tessa quickly and hand her over. Let Marie take the girl and leave Noctarth before the entire Ashen Pact

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Chapter 742 Web of Suspicions

burned to ashes.

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Finished

That woman was trouble incarnate. As long as she lingered, disaster would only deepen.

Manny seethed. “And why are they even looking at us? Do they have a shred of proof that we took that bastard girl?”

The mere mention of Tessa made his blood boil.

She was nothing but a cast–off child, abandoned by her father–yet somehow she had roused Dawson family, the Tom family, and even Victor himself against the Ashen Pact.

Anyone who didn’t know better might think she was some kind of saint.

Artemis’s tone sharpened. “Evidence or not, we still have to help find her.”

That was what infuriated her most.

They had no proof, and yet they were the ones forced to bear the burden, to somehow return a girl they had never taken.

Manny’s face darkened further. “This is madness.”

Meanwhile, Dan’s position at Dovemont had grown shaky after Derrick’s strike.

He immediately dispatched his own men to shadow Manny, Artemis, and even Dale, determined to see whose hands Tessa truly lay in.

Chaos swallowed the Ashen Pact whole.

Just as Victor had predicted, suspicion ate them alive.

Dale watched Dan, Manny, and Artemis.

Manny sent spies after Dan.

Dan set watchers on Dale, Manny, and Artemis.

All of them clawed at each other, searching for one girl.

And just as they turned inward, Marie struck again. Derrick’s forces targeted another string of vital strongholds.

This time, even Artemis’s and Manny’s holdings were hit.

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Chapter 742 Web of Suspicions

The noose tightened.

Finished

Marie studied the fresh reports of Derrick’s strikes, lips curving. “Now they’ll have to hand her over.”

He had been merciless, hitting them where it hurt most.

Derrick nodded. “They’ll have little choice now.”

Just then, Marie’s phone buzzed.

A local number.

She raised a brow at Derrick. “Ashen Pact?”

“Answer it.”

Marie slid her thumb across the screen. “Hello.”

“Ms. Dawson,” came Artemis’s voice.

“Oh?”

“Hand the girl over to me within the hour,” Artemis said sharply. “Do that, and I’ll return your Data Tech intact.”

Data Tech–one of the Ashen Pact’s most crucial assets, long under Artemis’s control.

Marie and Derrick had clearly chosen their targets well. They had struck where it would hurt the most.

Artemis’s voice rose, chest heaving with fury. “Ms. Dawson, I have every reason to believe you never cared about Tessa at all. This was nothing but a ploy to unite against the Ashen Pact.”

Marie’s eyes narrowed.

“You’re after our resources, aren’t you? Isn’t that your true aim?”

Artemis’s voice was taut with rage, her words sharp as knives.

Diana…

That wretched woman.

Had she been part of this scheme all along? Had she calculated it from the start?