Chapter 231

　　The Carter Group was going down! 　　The news recently went viral in Gabbs. 　　It had been a topic of conversation at every business cocktail party lately, including the one Mike was attending today. 　　He smoked at the banquet. He loathed such gatherings, yet no matter how much he disliked them, he had to put up with them. 　　"I have something to do. I'll take my leave now," Mike said and was about to leave. He opened the door of the room and wanted to go out. 　　Before he walked out, he stopped, because he saw a familiar figure in the corridor. 　　He couldn't be sure and called out tentatively, "Mrs. Hammond?" 　　The person didn't respond. 　　The men at the table in the room all stopped what they were doing. Instead, they all turned around and looked in one direction. 　　They thought, 'No way! It can't be Patrick's mate, right?' 　　Mike ignored the group of half-drunk men behind him. He looked at the woman's back. She was limping slightly toward the elevator. He went anxious and shouted hurri