novelxo Chapter 368
Connor was quiet.
Ruben got the message right away, "Whatever you say, boss."
The helicopter arrived in no time. This time, Teddy was the one flying it.
Teddy had a brief exchange with Connor. Glancing at the battered Barrett, Teddy reported, "I've done the digging. Barrett, an orphan, got noticed for his good looks and amazing voice by opera maestro Vincent Marshall. Vincent took him in, treating him like a son. At seventeen, Barrett wowed everyone at a state dinner with his performance. But a month later, Vincent suddenly cut ties with him. Since then, Barrett's been in the entertainment industry, making a name for himself and earning the title of 'Period Drama's Leading Man.""
"What's his connection to my sister?"
Teddy looked a bit sheepish. From the start of the variety show, Connor had asked him to find out if Barrett had any ties to Claire. Teddy's investigation turned up nothing. Barrett wasn't signed with Eldridge Entertainment, and his work had minimal involvement from Sartori Corporation. Claire, being a high-profile figure in a trillion-dollar conglomerate, had little reason to interact with an actor. Plus, due to Suzanne's influence, Claire despised entertainers and avoided them.
So, Teddy figured Barrett's appearance on the show was unrelated to Claire. This misled Connor. But just yesterday, while reviewing Barrett's performance at the state dinner, Teddy stumbled on a shocking secret. Claire had been at the dinner.
Following a hunch, Teddy tracked down the now-reclusive Vincent and uncovered a jaw-dropping secret.
"What? Are you saying Barrett was my sister's lover?"
Connor was floored. Despite Claire's
public persona, she kept her private
life tightly under wraps. She controlled the media narrative, presenting herself as "Sartori Corporation's Leader," "The Thatcher of the business world," and "The elegant philanthropist." Her personal life was never in the spotlight. She spent years abroad, so naturally, Connor was in the dark.
Teddy nodded, then dropped another bombshell. "Not just Barrett, Vincent too."
Connor's brow furrowed. After a moment, he said, "So that's why Barrett and Vincent fell out."
Connor was stunned. Barrett was only three years older than Pax and had been with Claire since he was seventeen, staying by her side for seven years.
Connor scoffed, his tone dripping with irony, "Huh, typical Claire."
Teddy pressed, "Boss, what do we do with him?"
Connor glanced at Barrett, his eyes cold, "He's badly hurt. Take him to 'The Sanctuary,' get him treated, and don't take him to a hospital." Teddy quickly left with his team.
The next morning, Diana woke up feeling sore all over. Her head was foggy, and she couldn't recall what happened the night before. She remembered confessing to Uncle Connor and getting rejected. Then she went to a bar and met Barrett. After that, it was all a blur,
She looked around; the room was unfamiliar, not the one the show's crew arranged on the island. Where was she? Her mind was too
muddled to figure it out. She got up, headed to the bathroom, hoping a shower would clear her head. But when she saw the marks all over her neck in the mirror, her heart raced!