The Billionaire's Maid Bride novel Chapter 724

Lucian's gaze deepened as he listened, his eyes betraying a storm of thoughts brewing beneath the surface. When coincidences pile up like that, they're anything but coincidental. A regular attending physician suddenly shooting up the ranks to associate director within months, and then getting transferred to another city—it just didn't add up. Someone had to be pulling the strings, and he was determined to uncover Penelope's endgame.

Meanwhile, Allison was fully immersed in the whirlwind of filming. She had landed a role in Mr. Simonds' latest blockbuster, playing Grace—a gritty, resilient soul like a wildflower thriving against the urban backdrop. Her on-screen partner was an up-and-coming talent named Drew, and this was their first collaboration. The month-long shoot had been pleasant, and with just two weeks left, the finish line was in sight.

The shoot had intensified, leaving no time for Allison to return to her apartment, so she stayed at the hotel booked by the production team. Over at the office, Emma was swamped after being promoted to deputy director, handling a myriad of corporate affairs. She had picked out a sharp and savvy assistant for Allison—a young woman named Momo, fresh out of college with a degree in nutrition and wellness. Not only did Momo assist with daily tasks, but she also meticulously managed Allison's diet.

Whenever there was a shoot or an appearance scheduled, Emma would loop in either Allison or Momo. In the short time she'd been Allison's assistant, Momo had proven herself both clever and capable, earning Allison's approval. Patty, on the other hand, was seldom seen around the office these days. Despite interest from smaller agencies eager to poach her, the steep breach-of-contract fees set by Epic Entertainment had deterred most. Agents like Patty usually renewed their contracts in three-year intervals, and it seemed she was biding her time until her contract expired. After all, playing second fiddle to Emma and Charlie at the company was anything but pleasant.

Emma kept Allison out of the loop on the more mundane office politics—like how Penelope had set her sights on a luxurious endorsement deal only to hit a wall. The company's executive board had voted, and almost none had been in favor of Penelope, not even her own agent, Charlie. Despite Penelope's attempts to leverage Miranda's influence on Kenneth, Epic Entertainment stood firm. As the Lindberg Corporation had declared, "Epic Entertainment bears the name Lindberg, not Qin."

In recent days, Miranda had been devoutly praying and chanting, but night after night, nightmares jarred her awake. The recurring dream featured a bloodied little boy clutching her hand, calling out, "Grandma, grandma." It took a string of mantras and a long while clutching her rosary beads before Miranda could find a semblance of peace. That child had always been her greatest regret. The Lindbergs had held such high hopes and love for the unborn child, and yet Miranda's actions had led to its loss. She sighed and spent another sleepless night, haunted by the past.

The next morning, Miranda visited the temple at dawn, lighting incense and donating generously, perhaps seeking solace for her troubled soul. Even though Penelope was known for her haughty disposition, far from the gentleness she portrayed, Miranda had always shown her favoritism—fueled by the memory of the child. Unless irrefutable evidence proved the child wasn't Lucian's, Miranda would never waver in her belief. No one would dare gamble with the life of a child, and as a mother herself who had suffered in childbirth, she couldn't help but empathize with Penelope's miscarriage.