Filed to story: The CEO’s Wife Is a Secret Boss Novel (Allison & Jeremy) Free Online
“Justin’s too cunning to leave loose ends. Dr. Bender is clearly his plant, set up to make everything look airtight,” Silas continued.
Alyssa rubbed her temples, her gaze sharp and icy. “Even if the witness is part of Justin’s scheme, the blood sample they tested is real.
Jonah handed Alyssa a glass of warm water, concern etched on his face. “Clearing Jeremy’s name won’t be easy. The public is already talking, and in this age of social media, rumors spread faster than truth. Lyse, you can’t stop people from running their mouths.”
Silas gritted his teeth.”Justin isn’t just trying to win; he’s trying to obliterate Jeremy. He’s weaponizing words to crush him.”
The room grew heavy with tension.
“We have two options,” Alyssa said, her voice steady despite her pounding headache. Her gaze darkened as she laid out their strategy. “First, we could force Dr. Bender to change his testimony. Find evidence that the blood test results were tampered with and get him to switch sides.
“Second, we need undeniable proof that the pills Jeremy has been taking aren’t Crystal Ice but medication for traumatic brain injuries. We’d have to show that the substance in his body came from the medication, not drugs.”
Cyrus groaned, ruffling his hair in frustration. “But it’s been so long. How can we possibly find proof now?”
“We can.”
Jonah took a deep breath, his voice trembling slightly as he spoke. “Julien. He’s a doctor and treated Jeremy while he was in a coma. If anyone can help, it’s him.”
Silence filled Alyssa’s office.
Since the incident that led to Jonah and Julien’s heartbreaking breakup, everyone had avoided mentioning Julien, even though the sorrow of it lingered like a heavy shadow.
Alyssa had suggested the second option because she believed Julien might be the key to tuming the tide in their favor. But where was Julien now?
After the fallout, he had disfigured himself, consumed by hatred toward Jonah, and left without hesitation. Would he return? Could they even find him?
“Let’s try to think of something else,” Cyrus said, shaking his head dejectedly. He understood Jonah’s situation all too well.
“I’ll go look for him.” Jonah closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them, they glistened with unshed tears. The redness in his gaze betrayed his heartbreak. “Some of my former subordinates are still in Mosgravia. I’ll contact them for help. I’ll find Julien, even if it means sacrificing sleep and meals. No matter what it takes, I’ll bring him back.”
Silas and Cyrus exchanged a glance, their hearts heavy as they took in Jonah’s grief.
“We need to act quickly. I’ll send people from KS Group to Mosgravia to assist in the search. The longer this drags on, the more unpredictable things will become.”
Alyssa wasn’t in the mood for polite conversation with her brothers. She looked at Cyrus with a serious expression. “I might need your help next, Cyrus. Your policing abilities will be crucial.’
Cyrus straightened, looking ready to leap into action. “Don’t worry about troubling me. Just tell me what you need!”
“Investigate Dr. Bender,” Alyssa said, her tone icy. “Look into his family background, his work, and his personal life. Find out if he has family in Solana City and how they’re doing.”
Cyrus blinked, but he quickly caught on. A faint smile tugged at his lips. “I see what you’re getting at.”
Alyssa’s gaze sharpened. “Dr. Bender went against his professional ethics, revealing a patient’s treatment records to another party without permission. He risked his career by crossing Jeremy. This tells us one thing…”
She turned her teacup slowly, her fingers gliding over its surface as a fierce gleam flashed in her eyes. “Justin and Sheryl must have offered him something irresistible-or they’ve found a way to control him.”
Silas scoffed. “Dr. Bender is pathetic. He joined Justin’s camp to protect himself, but hasn’t he considered that we Taylors are backing Jeremy? If he crosses Jeremy, our family can crush him. How could he not know that?”
Alyssa raised an eyebrow, stifling a laugh. ‘Silas, you sound less like a prosecutor and more like a thug.”
Silas slammed his hand on the table. “Look at what Jeremy’s going through! How can I not be furious? If I could, I’d pounce on Justin and rip his head off!”
Despite the tension, the Taylors’ spirited exchange lightened the mood in the room. After all, status and authority were fleeting. What mattered most was that Jeremy wasn’t on the brink of death. There was no need to act as if the world were ending.
Their primary concem was that Jeremy’s meticulously built career could be destroyed by a malevolent individual in an instant. They were determined to assist him in protecting his rightful achievements.
Jeremy had endured countless hardships as a child. Other than Anne, he had no one. Even his mother-the person who loved him most-had lost her life in the Walsh family’s harrowing feud.
Alyssa’s sleepless nights and tireless efforts were all to ensure that Jeremy wouldn’t lose anything more.
“Sheryl is a dangerous individual,” Jonah said, his voice steady despite the sorrow in his eyes. “She’s just like Jameson-Justin’s pawn. But more than that, she’s the key to exposing Justin’s schemes.”
Cyrus’ chest tightened, his eyes misting over. “What about Remy? Or should I say Damien?”
A stabbing pain shot through Alyssa’s heart. In a soft yet firm voice, she said, “Damien is different. I believe there’s still kindness in his heart, even if he’s lost his memories and been brainwashed by Justin. One day, he’ll wake up completely.”
Jonah, Silas, and Cyrus nodded firmly in agreement.
“Now that we’re on this topic, there’s something I need to tell all of you,” Alyssa said, her expression grim. Her tone tumed cold as she continued, “I highly suspect that Sheryl is actually Liana Gardner.”
Her words left the Taylor brothers stunned.
“I don’t have concrete evidence-no confession, no DNA proof. But when I called her ‘Liana’ at that run-down hospital, she turned around. Her reaction was odd, to say the least. Beyond that, her mannerisms, habits, and private behavior are eerily similar to Liana’s.”
Alyssa smiled confidently. “And most importantly, I trust my instincts.”
“No wonder!” Silas suddenly shot to his feet, his eyes wide. “When I first saw her at the hospital, when she brushed past me, I felt this strange sense of familiarity. So, she’s Liana? That means my gut feeling was right all along!
Jonah’s expression grew serious. “If that’s true, Jeremy is in even greater danger. Liana’s return-under a new identity, working alongside Justin no less-means she’s playing the long game. She’s probably back for revenge.
“When the Gardners fell from grace, her reputation was shredded, and the public despised her. It’s likely she’s here to settle the score, not just with Jeremy but maybe with you too, Lyse.”
Alyssa scoffed, leaning back on the couch with a calm demeanor. She rested her arm on the armrest, crossed her legs, and tilted her chin upward. Her eyes gleamed with a sharp, daring light. “She’d better hurry up, then. I really can’t wait.”
After Sheryl gave her statement, Rio dispatched his team to investigate her home and social networks thoroughly.
They found nothing. No drugs, no suspicious connections. Her private life was spotless-just days spent working by Justin’s side and performing her duties as a prison medic.
That was it.
Frustrated by the lack of evidence, Rio was summoned to Gabe’s office the moment he returned to the precinct.
Behind the closed door, Gabe’s expression was icy. Why did you bring Dr. Gillis in for questioning without my authorization? Don’t you realize she’s been working tirelessly as a prison medic?
“She’s practically a colleague in the judicial system. What do you think people will say if they find out you dragged her in for questioning?
Rio frowned, baffled. “But Mr. Barrett, Jeremy’s medications contain Crystal Ice-the very drug we’ve been cracking down on. He claimed Sheryl gave him those pills.
“According to protocol, I had to bring her in. There’s nothing improper about that. Even if she were one of my team, I’d still interrogate her if the situation called for it!”
Gabe’s glare was sharp and filled with disapproval, as if Rio had gravely disappointed him. Meanwhile, just outside the office, Cyrus had his ear pressed against the door.
Using skills inherited from Winston, he strained to catch snippets of the conversation. The heavy door muffled most of it, but he could tell Rio and Gabe were arguing about Jeremy’s case and Sheryl’s involvement.
The mention of Sheryl’s name deepened Cyrus’ suspicions. He knew Rio was one of Gabe’s trusted men, someone who always sought to curry favor with him. Though Rio wasn’t as skilled at solving cases as Cyrus, he had a knack for pleasing Gabe.
This was the first time Cyrus had seen the two at odds.
“I want you to release Dr. Gillis immediately!” Gabe’s voice thundered through the door. “This case is extremely sensitive. It involves the wealthiest family in Solana City. From now on, you are to get my explicit approval before making any arrests or moves.”
Gabe slammed his hand on the table repeatedly in anger.
Cyrus’ brow furrowed further. The situation was becoming more peculiar by the second.
If Gabe was so cautious about Sheryl, why had Jeremy been arrested without sufficient evidence? Was Jeremy’s arrest truly Gabe’s doing?
Inside the office, Rio hesitated before asking in a surprised tone, “Mr. Barrett, why does it feel like.. you know Dr. Gillis?”
With years of experience as a criminal investigator and a naturally sharp mind, Cyrus’ instincts flared the moment he heard Rio’s question.
Gabe slammed the table, his voice a thunderclap of rage. ‘Rio Olson! What nonsense are you spouting? Have I been too lenient with you? Dr. Gillis is a doctor, and I’m a police chief. How would I know her? Stop letting your imagination run wild!”
Gabe’s face flushed crimson as he glared at Rio.
Unmoved, Rio stared back, confusion etched on his face. “Then why are you stopping me from investigating Sheryl by the book? I don’t get it.
“Jeremy’s test results were positive, and we found drugs hidden in his office. That alone suggests drug abuse. To secure a conviction, we need to trace his supplier. Otherwise, this case will collapse in court.
“Let’s not forget-Jeremy’s attorney is Steven Lynch, a top-tier ex-judge who’s handled multiple high-profile cases.”
From his position outside the office, Cyrus could only catch fragments of the conversation. But Rio’s raised voice carried clearly, as did Gabe’s agitated outbursts. Years of interrogating criminals had taught Cyrus that such agitation often betrayed a deeper connection. Why else would someone get so defensive?
Gabe finally sat down, his expression cold. “We can’t convict Jeremy for possession, but we’ve proven he used drugs. That’s enough to close the case.”
Rio refused to back down. “Chief Barrett, this isn’t just about Jeremy. We’re cracking down on Crystal Ice-a drug as dangerous as crystal meth was in its prime. This lead could take us to the trafficker behind it all. Why shut the case now?”
