Chapter 846


    Chapter 846


    Brittany managed a wry smile, “How have you been holding uptely?”


    “Just peachy.”


    Brittany had met Charles under serendipitous circumstances. He seemed like a free spirit, but


    underneath that facade was a highlypetent man with an extensivework of information at his


    fingertips. Her trip to Craneville was spurred by a desire to delve deeper into the research institute’s


    mysteries.


    “How’s the investigation going?” she asked.


    “Hang tight,” he replied before standing up to leave.


    Upon his return, Charles slid a stack of papers across the table towards her. “Based on what I’ve found


    so far, the family bankrolling the institute from the shadows is likely the Salters.”


    “The Salter family?”


    “Yes,” Charles nodded. “Pete Salter had a keen interest in these matters, but he’s been gone for years,


    and there’s nothing left to uncover.”


    The documents echoed Charles’s words.


    Brittany hadn’t expected the Salter family to be entangled in this affair.


    “There’s something else,” Charles said with a sly grin. “I discovered that your mother, Ms) Russell, had


    visited Craneville before.”


    “My mother?”


    “Indeed.”


    He nodded solemnly, “And it just so happens that Pete Salter was in town at the same time as Ms.


    Russell.”


    “My mom had no known ties to the Salter family before she passed.”


    Indeed, Julie Russell-Dustin was once a socialite of Imperial City, but her connection to the Salters


    seemed coincidental at best.


    Charles suspected there was more to it, but without evidence, he kept his theories to himself.


    Before leaving, he turned to Brittany, “The man with you today, is he your boyfriend?”


    “No, he’s a senior executive I’ve hired to help run thepany,” Brittany rified, noting the


    misunderstanding. “My fiancé is still back home.”


    A trace of light flickered in Charles’s eyes before he spoke again, “Alright, I’ll be heading to


    Imperial City soon. We’ll catch up there.”


    Back at her hotel, Brittany shed her defenses and the day’s dust, falling into a deep, restful sleep.


    The following day, Brittany and Landon got down to business.


    The other party was eager and genuine.


    A preliminary agreement was reached after nearly two days of hammering out the details. On


    Thursday, the contract was signed.


    That evening, Brittany invited everyone to unwind at a bar, and Landon joined them. By some stroke of


    fate, the chosen bar was owned by Charles.


    The pounding beats and apuse filled the air as they entered.


    Center stage, behind the instruments, stood a young man.


    His white shirt was unbuttoned enough to reveal a chiseled chest; his wet hair clung to his scalp,


    entuating his handsome features.


    He was pale, lean, and exuded a sense of power.


    As he yed, the atmosphere churned with excitement, culminating in him shedding his shirt and


    moving rhythmically with the music.


    The crowd was electrified.


    Brittany felt a tightening in her chest.


    Charles was, as always… quite the showman.


    After his performance, Charles stepped down and greeted Brittany.


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    Landon was surprised; he hadn’t expected Charles, who he thought was just a pretty face, to be so


    striking.


    ustomed to these surroundings, Charles caught Landon’s astonished look and a shadow crossed


    his eyes.


    Charles joined Brittany for a couple of drinks before excusing himself to the restroom.


    Landon, feigning difort, hastily exited.


    Brittany thought nothing of it.


    But that night, neither Landon nor Charles appeared again.


    The next day at the airport, Landon was his usualposed self.


    Just before boarding, Brittany received a message from Charles.


    [It’s confirmed. The Salter family was behind the institute’s funding. And Grace is aware of it.]