The Wrong Girl and the Wronged Girl (Stella and Ethan) novel Chapter 743

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She had wanted to return long ago. Somehow, she must have manipulated Dan, driving him into bringing her back himself.

The more Artemis thought about it, the more convinced she became.

Why else would the Ashen Pact suddenly look like prey being carved apart, its resources swallowed piece by piece? It had to have been orchestrated from the start.

The situation had spiraled so quickly, no one even had time to react before outside forces came crashing in.

Marie listened, silent, then glanced sidelong at Derrick.

Artemis’s voice snapped through the line, sharp with rage. “You’ve planned this all along, haven’t you? United with her. What did that woman promise you?”

Marie’s brows twitched.

“You’re not planning to hand her over, are you?” Marie shot back.

Artemis’s fury boiled over. “She was never in our hands—you know that as well as I do!”

Marie barked a laugh. “Know what, exactly? If you’re refusing, just say it!”

Her patience snapped. “Fine then. Looks like we haven’t hit you hard enough yet.”

She slammed the call shut.

Marie was seething.

“These Ashen Pact bastards–completely shameless. No wonder Dan’s such a disgrace. Like father, like son.”

She was livid, pacing, fists clenched.

Derrick calmly swirled his wine, took an unhurried sip.

“What did she say?”

“That Tessa isn’t in their hands,” Marie spat. “I say she just doesn’t want to hand her over!”

If Tessa wasn’t with them, then where was she? The thought only made her blood boil hotter.

“You need to find another way,” she pressed. “We can’t let this drag on. Tessa has to come back

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Chapter 743 Cracks

to us.”

The longer she stayed missing, the more dangerous Victor’s obsession would become.

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Marie winced just thinking of it. “Damn it, why would Victor even want short–legged little Tang? This is a nightmare.”

If she failed to recover Tessa, sooner or later Victor’s fury might turn on her.

She could accept the risk herself—but what if it damaged her brother’s relationship with Victor? That was unacceptable.

“Morris family, shameless pigs!” she cursed again.

Derrick’s gaze was unreadable, his glass tilting lazily in his hand.

“You could at least say something,” Marie snapped.

He glanced at his watch, voice low. “This isn’t something we can rush.”

Then, with infuriating calm, “Let’s eat.”

“Eat? I can’t swallow a bite right now!”

She had barely been able to settle for days. After Artemis’s call, her appetite was gone entirely.

Derrick pulled out his phone, dialing a number. His words were clipped, precise–more strikes ordered against the Ashen Pact.

Marie didn’t need to ask; she knew.

Their tactics were simple: for every refusal, another vital artery of the Ashen Pact would bleed.

By now, they had mapped every stronghold, every line of lifeblood. If the Pact wouldn’t yield, they would break them piece by piece.

But even as Derrick hung up, Marie couldn’t hold back. “Why won’t they give her up? We’ve already gutted half their foundations. Still they hold on!”

Derrick’s smile curved faintly, a glint of something dangerous flickering in his eyes. “Diana vanished with half of the Ashen Pact’s treasure map. Compared to that, what we’ve taken may be worthless.”

Marie’s lips parted, then pressed tight.

Of course. That had to be it.

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The unknown promise of Diana’s map outweighed every mine, every city.

“So what do we do now?” she muttered.

If their assaults weren’t enough to rival that map, then no matter how hard they struck, the Ashen Pact would never hand Tessa over.

Her eyes searched Derrick’s face, frustrated and uncertain.

He lifted his gaze, eyes as deep and dark as an abyss.

Marie shivered under the weight of it. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Derrick’s tone was smooth, dangerous. “What Diana holds is an unknown value. What the Ashen Pact is losing now…”

He paused deliberately.

Marie’s breath caught. “What they’re losing now are the arteries keeping them alive.”

A small smile curved his lips. He gave a single approving hum, eyes gleaming with rare praise.

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