When the Dead Still Call novel Chapter 172

Chapter 172 The Perfect Setup

Finished

Vincent had no idea what was going on. Still upset after Amelia punched him earlier, he drank a few extra glasses.

But with his usual tolerance, there was no way that little alcohol could have knocked him out like this.

What bothered him even more was how strange his body felt–hot, restless, and full of energy he couldn’t explain. And worse, his head was full of Amelia.

He kept imagining pulling her into the bed, doing things he shouldn’t even think about.

Vincent shook his head hard, trying to chase those thoughts away. He yanked the blanket over himself and forced his eyes shut, trying to sleep it off.

Outside the room, Diana watched her son carefully. From his behavior alone, she could tell the drug had taken effect.

As long as Gianna brought that brat into the room, this plan would be a complete success. Everything would fall right into place.

All she needed to do now was bring Amelia’s family over as the witnesses.

Of course, it had to be done quietly. If the other guests found out, Vincent’s reputation would be destroyed.

But once the Nygards saw what had happened, they’d have no choice but to demand that the Desters take responsibility.

Once that happened, Amelia would finally stop acting so defiant. She wouldn’t dare fight back anymore. Her plan would definitely work.

Satisfied with her plan, Diana walked away and headed toward Emery.

Diana headed toward where Emery was chatting with guests, but she didn’t walk straight up to her. Instead, she stopped by the nearby wine section and poured herself a glass of red.

She sipped it slowly while counting down the minutes.

By now, Gianna should’ve already led Amelia to the room.

These things took time, of course, so Diana decided to wait another 30 minutes before making her move.

When the time felt right, she put on her act.

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12:04 Fri, Oct 10

Chapter 172 The Perfect Setup

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Finished

Her expression changed instantly–panic, worry, and urgency filled her face. She hurried through the crowd, almost running as she reached Emery.

“Oh my gosh, Emery!” she cried. “I don’t know what’s going on–Vincent’s acting crazy! He’s in the lounge yelling and calling out Amelia’s name. I’m scared he’ll do something stupid. Could you please come check on him?”

Emery, who had just been planning to retouch her makeup in the lounge, froze for a second. When she saw how flustered Diana was, she frowned slightly.

“Maybe he’s just drunk,” Emery comforted her gently. “I didn’t realize he cared this much about my daughter.”

Diana immediately nodded along, pretending to agree. “Yes, he’s had quite a bit to drink tonight. Amelia argued with him earlier and even hit him. He must be upset and drank too much. But he really loves her, you know. They’ll make up soon–young people always fight and make up.”

Emery sighed, her tone softening. “Alright, let’s go. I was considering taking a short break anyway.”

Since this was an event hosted by their family, if anything went wrong, it would affect both families‘ reputations. Better to see what was happening firsthand.

Gianna’s voice was soft and trembling. “Vincent, I came in because you didn’t look well. I wanted to ask if you were okay, but then you just … you just-” She bit her lip, lowering her

gaze.

Gianna slowly pulled the blanket up, the soft fabric folding under her chin, hiding the lower half of her delicate face.

Her

eyes, tinged with a faint blush, glistened with a watery sheen.

Those eyes carried a mix of shyness and unease, the kind that made her look both scared and anxious.

She just stared at Vincent, unmoving. Her eyes looked shy and scared on the surface, but the longer he met her gaze, the heavier it felt—like she was quietly cornering him.

Vincent’s mind went completely blank at her words. His thoughts tangled so badly it felt like his head was about to explode.

Sure, he admitted there had been a little suggestiveness between them before–a few private dinners, some playful texts, and a spark or two that neither of them named.

But he’d never crossed the line. He’d always considered himself to be a decent man.

And now, somehow, it had turned into this. Vincent was horrified.

Not because of what might have happened with Gianna, but because if anyone else found out- especially Amelia–it would be a disaster.

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