All Chapters of The Bet That Ruined Us : Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

[GC Group of Companies]Grayson sat at his desk, the office quiet except for the hum of his computer and the distant sound of the city below. It was late, well past the time most of his employees had gone home. He had told Shayla not to come to work today. He wanted her to focus on making things right with Ruby, and he knew having her in the office would only distract her.Besides, there was something he needed to look into. Something that had been bothering him for weeks.He loosened his tie and leaned back in his chair, rubbing his eyes. His phone beeped, and he picked it up, expecting an email or a message from Ayven demanding why he's not home yet.Instead, he saw a text from an unknown number."You will be seeing me soon, Grayson Cross. Enjoy your little family while it lasts. I have got a pretty big surprise for you."Grayson's jaw clenched. Before he could process the message, another one came through from a different unknown number."You have been out of our radar for years no

Grayson raised his head slowly, his eyes lifting from the portfolio to look at the woman standing beside Mrs. Morales. The name Monica V felt both strange and familiar at the same time, like a word on the tip of his tongue that he could not quite place.She was professionally dressed in a crisp navy blue suit that was neither too conservative nor too flashy. Her hair was pulled back neatly, and her makeup was subtle and appropriate for a corporate environment. She stood with excellent posture, her hands clasped in front of her, her expression politely professional.There was something about her that nagged at him, something he could not quite put his finger on. But he had met thousands of people over the years, conducted hundreds of interviews, and worked with countless employees. It was natural that faces and voices would occasionally blur together."Thank you, Mrs. Morales," Grayson said, turning his attention to the older woman with a brief nod of acknowledgement. Then he looked ba

[RUBY'S MANSION - KITCHEN]Shayla sat perched on one of the high stools at the kitchen island, a glass of wine in her hand, watching her son and her best friend work together with the kind of practiced ease that came from years of cooking side by side. It was a familiar sight, one that brought a smile to her face and a warmth to her chest.She has missed this. This comfortable domesticity, this easy companionship, the way Ayven's face lit up when he was with his "Rubees." The three of them had formed their own little family long before Grayson had come into the picture, and Shayla was grateful beyond words that she had not lost it.Ruby stood at the stove, her hair pulled back in a messy bun, wearing an apron that said "Kiss the Cook" in glittering letters. She was explaining the proper way to make a roux to Ayven, who listened with the intense concentration he applied to everything he found interesting.Ayven, for his part, stood on a sturdy step stool that brought him up to counter

[GRAYSON CROSS MANSION - MASTER BEDROOM]Shayla and Grayson lay in bed, both of them freshly showered and dressed in comfortable sleepwear, the day finally behind them.Grayson had his arm around Shayla, her head resting on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. It had become their nightly ritual, this quiet time together where they could decompress and reconnect after being apart all day."How was your day today?" Grayson asked, his fingers trailing lazily up and down her arm."It was fine," Shayla said, her voice soft and content. "Classes went well. We are covering cardiovascular anatomy right now, which is fascinating. And I have a practical exam next week that I am both excited and terrified about.""That sounds interesting," Grayson said, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "I have no doubt you will do amazingly on your exam. You have always been brilliant, Ayla."Shayla felt warmth spread through her chest at his words, at the absolute confidence in his voice

[GC GROUP OF COMPANIES - GRAYSON'S OFFICE]Grayson sat behind his desk, his fingers drumming an agitated rhythm on the polished surface. His computer screen displayed financial reports that he should have been reviewing, but his mind was elsewhere, stuck on the text message he had received earlier that morning.Another message from an unknown number.“Don't you like this game we're playing? Besides, you have always loved games like your father.”Trevor had not been able to trace it. The number was another burner phone, purchased with cash, impossible to track. Lucas had found nothing suspicious in the security footage from the mansion or the office. Whoever was sending these messages was a ghost.And Grayson was getting tired of chasing ghosts.A knock at the door interrupted his spiraling thoughts. He looked up to see Monica standing in the doorway, her expression professionally pleasant."Sir, you have a meeting with Mr. Benjamin Hale in five minutes," she reminded him, glancing at