?Chapter 1681:


    N had expected Errol to use the family leadership as leverage, so she wasn’t shocked or upset. Privately, she mocked the idea. Errol still dangled the leadership before her as bait, but he never truly saw her as his sessor.


    Yet, the possibility of allying with her adversary’s foe intrigued her. Since Errol hinted at a chance for revenge, signaling his ill intentions toward Harlee, N saw benefits in not resisting.


    Pretending to be annoyed, N nodded, her fists tight, her acting fooling Errol.


    “Yes. I’ll try to invite Harlee, but considering our past, she might refuse.”


    Errol dismissed her concern with a wave, confident.


    “She wille.”


    N gave him a sharp look but left the room quickly. As soon as the door closed behind her, a sinister smile crossed her face. She intended to exploit Errol’s n to teach Harlee a severe lesson.


    After N departed, Errol turned to hispanion with a more serious expression.


    “Prepare those old contacts. I want a thorough background check on Harlee. We cannot afford to fail this time.”


    Errol considered the oues—ideally, Harlee would be an ally. Otherwise, he was prepared to avenge N.


    After breakfast and sending Robbie and the others off, Harlee changed into a rxed outfit and strolled around the vi grounds.


    She suddenly nced over her shoulder with a mischievous grin and caught sight of a stalker.


    L??t??τ ?h??ρτ?rs ιn g??l??ov?l??.??оm


    The stalker swiftly sidestepped, taking cover behind the wall.


    Harlee withdrew her gaze, a mischievous smile ying at the corner of her mouth. She paused, her expression serene, then resumed walking as if nothing had urred. The moment she had been waiting for was approaching. Settling onto a bench by the sea, Harlee crossed her legs and casually opened a game on her phone, feigning indifference to her stalker.


    A short distance away, a group of elderly men moved through their morning exercises. Seizing the opportunity, the stalker discreetly snapped a photo of Harlee’s profile and sent it to Moshe.


    What the stalker didn’t realize was that Harlee had caught the faint click of the camera. Her gaze flicked upward, a cold glint shing in her eyes, her presence momentarilymanding.


    By the time the stalker looked up from his phone, her expression had returned to one of quiet indifference, as if nothing had happened.


    Meanwhile, Harlee’s screen lit up with a message from Rhys.


    “Where are you?” Harlee’s lips curled into a small smile, but she swiped the notification away without reacting. A second message followed soon after.


    “Lee, everything with the newpany is settled. Can Ie see you?”


    She hesitated for a beat and then tapped the reply box, coolly typing six words: “Waiting for the fish to bite.”


    As soon as she saw he was typing, she quickly added another message.


    “Actually…”


    A smirk yed at her lips as she sent a mischievous emoji.


    “I’m the fish waiting for the fisherman to bring in the. So, don’t interrupt my ns unless you want the punishment tost indefinitely.”


    Rhys had just stepped out of the vi when Harlee’s message came through. He froze mid-step, rereading her words. It had been two days since hest held her, and the idea of an “indefinite extension” made his pulse quicken. He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. Without a second thought, he erased the message he had been typing and instead sent a pitiful kitten emoji.


    “I’ll wait for you toe home then.”


    A flicker of amusement crossed Harlee’s face, but she quickly concealed it. Noticing the stalker’s lingering gaze, she returned her attention to her game, her posture rxed, as if she hadn’t just made a grown man reconsider his entire evening.


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