?<strong>Chapter 1265:</strong>


    N and Jared escorted Lilian to the dimly lit basement. Jared was lost in thought, pondering how to exin everything to N. But N spoke first.


    “Mr. Cooper, no need for exnations. Leave now. I’ll keep an eye on Lilian and ensure she doesn’t foil your ns.”


    Lilian, lying on the ground, seethed with fury. But with her mouth stuffed, she couldn’t get a single word out.


    Jared, deeply grateful, murmured, “Thank you for this, N.”


    “It’s nothing. You saved me too. I’m still waiting for you to take me out of here,” N said softly, shaking her head.


    Jared’s gaze lingered on N for a moment. He nodded and replied, “Okay,” before making his exit.


    As Jared’s figure disappeared into the shadows, N’s expression hardened. She turned to Lilian and yanked the gag from her mouth.


    “You traitor, N! How could you side with Jared against me? Do you even know what he’s done?” Lilian spat.


    “Untie me this instant! I’ll gather my people and drag him back myself!”


    Even now, despite her clear difficult situation, Lilian didn’t grasp the gravity of it. She still spoke as if N were nothing more than a foolish girl blindly helping the wrong person.


    N remained silent, letting Lilian’s fury wash over her.


    After a while, Lilian sensed something was wrong. She tilted her head, trying to locate N.


    “N?” she called out uncertainly.


    “Yes, Lilian,” N responded coldly, arms crossed.


    A chill crept up Lilian’s spine. This wasn’t the N she knew. The N in her memory would never have dared to speak to her like that. Her throat went dry as unease settled over her. Something was slipping from her grasp.


    Forcing her tone into something softer, more coaxing, she tried again.


    “N, do you know I was supposed to attend an important government meeting with Dad today? If I don’t return soon, he’ll realize something is wrong. He’ll investigate. I know you’re naive, and Jared has blinded you with his act. But if you let me go now, I won’t hold this against you. Didn’t you always want money? Just tell me how…” much.


    “Or is it something else? Whatever it is, I can make it happen.” As she spoke, she discreetly worked at the knot behind her back.


    N chuckled, cutting her off.


    “Save your breath, Lilian. Do you really think I don’t know what kind of person you are?” She crouched in front of Lilian, her eyes raking over her face.


    “Instead of trying to fool me, you should be worrying about what’s going to happen to your Perkins family now that Mr. Cooper has taken those things from you.”


    “Our Perkins family? N, have you forgotten? You’re part of the Perkins family too!”


    N’s expression darkened. Without hesitation, she picked up a wooden stick lying nearby and brought it down hard on Lilian’s struggling wrists.


    A sharp cry of pain tore from Lilian’s lips as cold sweat beaded on her forehead.


    “N! How dare you hit my hands!”


    N remained unfazed, gripping the stick tighter.


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