Loraine poured him a glass of water, which he accepted with ease.
Not a trace of serious injury marred Marco's features.
Hubert seethed in silence, suspicions brewing but lacking evidence. He could only watch as Loraine cared for
Marco with tenderness.
At least Rowan couldn't witness this scene, he consoled himself.
To Loraine, it was simply a matter of cutting steak and passing the pepper. No big deal. Marco had aided her and
her uncle, and she refused to be indebted to him.
Witnessing Hubert’s pained expression, Marco felt not satisfaction, but a twinge of sadness.
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If even one of Rowan’s aides doted on Loraine so, one could only imagine the adoration she received from the
Torres family.
Loraine had endured so much during their three-year marriage.
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The initial sweetness had soured abruptly. Marco's heart ached, and he clenched his fists beneath the table,
unnoticed.
He longed to offer Loraine everything he had as recompense, but feared it was too late.
Once the dishes were served, the waiter closed the door.
Brady dabbed at his lips and regarded the group with a grave expression.
“Friends, besides expressing gratitude, | have another matter to discuss with you.”
He powered off his phone, placed it on the table, and smiled. “For the sake of confidentiality.”
The others exchanged glances and followed suit, switching off their devices.
Sensing the gravity of the situation, Loraine ventured a guess.
“Is this about my uncle’s mission? Haven't the criminals been apprehended?”
Brady nodded, then shook his head, his face etched with concern.
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“There's more to it than meets the eye. We can’t close the case just yet. But rest assured, we'll continue our
investigation.”
He paused before adding, “I've heard that the artificial intelligence
Qbot, developed by Bryant Group, played a crucial role in the operation and in saving Rowan. Its contribution
was invaluable.”
Marco acknowledged the statement with a composed nod, then corrected him. “Qbot isn’t solely owned by
Bryant Group. Loraine has half of its ownership.”
The revelation left the others at the table stunned and speechless, their faces a mosaic of shock and
bewilderment.