?Chapter 531:


    Everyone turned toward Hector, whose piercing gaze pinned Doris in ce.


    Left with no choice, Doris hesitated, then mumbled, “I—I went to thepany yesterday to see Brian, and when I got there… I overheard something.”


    Her voice dropped as she shot a fearful nce at Brian. “They were saying Brian and Tracy are… seeing each other. That they’re—” She faltered, her words deliberately hanging in the air.


    Debby, seizing the perfect moment, gently rubbed Doris’ shoulder. “It’s alright, sweetheart. Don’t hold back. Tell us what you heard.” Encouraged, Doris quickly found her voice again.


    “They said Brian and Tracy show up together every morning, like they’re living together. And apparently, they’re always…ughing, flirting… acting all sweet.”


    Her insinuationnded like a bombshell, plunging the table into a heavy silence.


    A momentter, Hector abruptly mmed his fork onto his te, the sound cracking like a whip.


    “Utter nonsense!” he barked, his eyes burning with fury.


    He turned his attention to Brian, his tone sharp and demanding. “You’d better start talking. Now.”


    Unfazed, Brian kept his expression unreadable. “There’s nothing to say. Those are just baseless rumors.”


    Hector, perceiving Brian’s silence as pure defiance, felt his temper re. “So that’s it, huh? You think you can just brush this off? Well, think again! If you don’t give me an exnation right now, I swear I won’t let you off the hook. Rachel is your fiancée! How could you possibly do this to her?”


    But Brian remained stone-faced, his jaw locked as he refused to say a word.


    What was there to exin when the entire thing was aplete fabrication? Nothing had happened.


    Still, when his gaze flickered to Rachel, expecting to see heartbreak, herposed and indifferent expression only fueled his reluctance to defend himself.


    ????????????’?? ????????: ?????????ν?????????????


    If she wasn’t bothered by it, what was the point of rifying anything? But Hector’s patience had already snapped. “You ungrateful brat!” he bellowed.


    In a fit of unrestrained fury, he snatched a porcin bowl from the table and flung it across the room. “Brian, watch out!”


    Rachel’s voice rang out just as she instinctively threw herself in front of him.


    The bowl shattered against her forehead with a sharp crack, sending a searing jolt of pain through her skull.


    Her breath hitched, and she bit down hard on her lip, her hand flying to her throbbing forehead.


    The room fell deathly silent, and Hector froze, his anger dissipating into pure horror. “Rachel… why did you—at a time like this—you still protected him? He deserved it!”


    Rachel exhaled shakily, willing herself to stayposed. “Hector, please don’t misunderstand,” she said softly. “I’m aware of the rumors circting at thepany, but that’s all they are—rumors. Brian’s been by my side these past few days. As for Tracy, their interactions are strictly work-rted.”


    Her gaze briefly met Brian’s before she firmly added, “I trust Brian. And I know he would never betray that trust.” Rachel’s voice was steady, unwavering.


    But the firmer she spoke, the more uneasy Brian felt.


    .


    .


    .