Chapter16 Jewel Whitmore never expected Weston Vale and Grayson Sloane to find her. Hunter had erased every trace, every lead, yet somehow, they had tracked her down. The thought sent a chill racing through her veins, but she forced herself to breathe. With men as proud as Weston and Grayson, they would never linger too long. The Prince of Harbor City's pride would not allow it. Or so she believed. That evening, on her way home from work, they appeared again. This time, they carried gifts. Weston held out a ruby necklace and a rare pink diamond ring. Grayson brought something far less dazzling, a tiny blue dress. The one Jewel had worn when she first entered the Sloane household, straight from the orphanage. Her gaze lingered on the dress for half a heartbeat before she tore it away. "Jewel," Grayson's voice trembled, his eyes reddened, "we know we were wrong. We should never have trusted Ivy. But please, on account of the years we shared, come back with us. Even with your new name, you're still alone out here. Weston and I can't help but worry." His words cracked under the weight of memory. He saw her as she had once been. a soft, bright little girl trailing after him, chirping Grayson, Grayson, like a lark. Now, when she looked at him, there was nothing but frost. Detachment. Disgust. Jewel stayed silent. Her silence carried the weight of agony, the memory of being cut open, her liver carved away while Grayson stood by, issuing orders with clinical detachment. His eyes had held only concern for Ivy. Not for her. Never for her. "Jewel, I'm sorry." Weston stepped forward, his face twisted in regret. "I betrayed everything we had. I should never have believed Ivy, never have hurt you. She told us she had cancer, that she'd lost her child, that her body was failing. I thought..." His voice broke. "I thought I was saving her. But it was all lies. She was never sick, never infertile. She orchestrated everything. Even the man who..." His fists clenched. "Even that assault wasn't from us. It was all Ivy." His hatred for Ivy poured off him in waves. "I was blind," he said hoarsely. "Blind to her deceit." The sincerity in their voices might have swayed another woman. But Jewel laughed. It wasn't laughter, it was a jagged blade, slow and dull, sawing straight through Weston's chest. "So everything was Ivy's fault?" Her voice shook with scorn. "Tell me, Weston, was it Ivy's lies that put you in bed with her? On our wedding anniversary? In our bed?" Her hand slipped into her purse, pulling out her phone. "Listen to this." A recording played, crackling with ugly truth. 'If those photos of Jewel leak everywhere, she'll lose her mind.' 'I don't care. For Ivy, I'll do it.' 'But, ' 'No buts. Just do it.' Weston's face turned ashen as the words cut through him. "For Ivy's sake, you two destroyed me. You let my private videos spill across the entire internet. You made me a global scandal." Her voice rose, her composure cracking. "You drained eight hundred milliliters of my blood because Ivy was anemic. You cut into my body and ripped out a piece of my liver." Her eyes burned red at the corners. "And now, you think a simple apology will erase it all?" She let out a bitter laugh. "Even if none of that had happened, Weston, your affair with Ivy is still fact." The memories clawed their way up, stabbing at her like ghosts with knives. No matter how deep she buried them, in the silence of the night, they returned. Weston stared at her, hollow, his throat raw. She looked at him as though he were a stranger. Worse, a sworn enemy. His voice cracked. "Jewel, I know. I know I was wrong. I'll make it right. I swear I'll atone in my own way." Behind him, Grayson's eyes met his. For a long moment, the two men stood in silence, exchanging a wordless pact. Then, together, they turned back toward Harbor City. Title: CEO, Your Wife Is Gone Author: CrushReel Genre: Romance, CEO, Sweet Romance, Modern, Romantic Status: ongoing In "CEO, Your Wife Is Gone," Elise battles cancer while striving to fulfill her role as the perfect wife to George. Trinity, Elise's sister, orchestrates a deceitful scheme against her... Embark on a heartfelt journey in this modern romance novel that explores themes of love and betrayal amidst the challenges of illness. Follow Elise as she navigates the complexities of her relationships and confronts unexpected twists orchestrated by those closest to her. What sets "CEO, Your Wife Is Gone" apart is its poignant portrayal of love tested by adversity and the resilience of the human spirit. Dive into this captivating narrative filled with emotional depth and intricate character dynamics. Discover the unique blend of romance and suspense that defines this captivating story available to read at CrushReel. Experience the emotional rollercoaster of Elise's journey online at CrushReel today.