?Chapter 1014:


    In the next heartbeat, a rush of hands grabbed Cedric, anchoring him, and together they hauled Huey up.


    Huey copsed onto solid ground, his legs useless beneath him, his whole body trembling like a leaf in a storm.


    He turned to Hackett, mouth agape, disbelief etched into his face.


    Hackett, still reeling from the moment, pulled Huey into a tight embrace. “Huey, what the hell happened? Why didn’t you hold on? You scared me half to death! If you’d fallen, how could I ever face your family?”


    His face carried a perfect mask of concern, not a single crack in the performance.


    Huey, still dazed, stared nkly, questioning if thest few moments had even been real. The entire spectacle had spiraled into a nightmare.


    As they escorted him away, Huey cast onest nce at Cedric. Opposite Cedric, Dani stood, her voice low, her expression one of quiet concern.


    Huey dropped his gaze, shoulders heavy with exhaustion, and silently followed the others.


    In the hospital, Hackett was bustling around, speaking with the attending physician. “Doctor, this man is my closest friend. Please, make sure he gets a full examination—no detail overlooked.”


    Facing the reporters, he raised a hand, his tonemanding yet measured. “That’s enough for today. No more pictures. Huey’s been through a traumatic ordeal. Give us some space. We’ll issue a statement when the time is right.” With the press handled, Hackett made a brief stop at a nearby fruit shop, selecting a basket of fresh fruit and a bouquet of flowers before heading back upstairs to Huey’s room.


    “Huey, you nearly gave me a heart attack back there.” Hackett’s voice wasced with concern as he set the fruit basket down. “I was terrified. What the hell happened? You were supposed to hold on. Why did you let go?”


    Huey pressed his lips together, his gaze distant, offering no response.


    Hackett exhaled, his voice gentler now. “Alright, I get it. You’re still shaken. Just rest up. I’ve spoken with the hospital—everything’s taken care of. You don’t have to worry about a thing.”


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    Right now, Hackett looked every bit the devoted friend—his words, his actions, all painted the picture of someone deeply concerned. To an outsider, he might even seem like a man with a genuinely kind heart.


    Not long after, Hackett departed, apanied by the members of the association.


    As soon as they stepped out of the ward, Marcus shot Hackett a questioning look. “So what really happened back there? How did you suddenly lose your grip?”


    Farley frowned, nodding. “Yeah. Huey barely made it. What went wrong?”


    Hackett sighed, his face grave. “I’ve been thinking about that too. It’s strange, really. But if I recall correctly, Cedric bumped my arm at that exact moment. That’s why I lost my grip.”


    Bruno narrowed his eyes. “That so?”


    Hackett’s face twisted with hurt. “What are you implying? That I’d lie about this? Huey’s my best friend. Why would I ever harm him? Use your heads. Between me and Cedric, who has more reason to go after Huey? It’s obvious—it has to be Cedric.”


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