?Chapter 1176:


    “Hello.” Hamilton’s voice came through, impossibly neutral—giving no hint of whether he was pleased or pissed.


    “Dad, I just need to confirm something. Did you send Ghost to me?” Niks asked, shooting a smug nce at Dani, already convinced he had the upper hand.


    Silence stretched on the other end.


    Niks frowned, wondering if the call had disconnected. “Hello?” he asked, confused.


    A few secondster, Hamilton finally spoke, but his voice was eerily gentle—so unfamiliar that Niks stiffened. “Hello, Ms. Harper. It seems my son has embarrassed himself in front of you. Or would you prefer I call you rinda?”


    Niks stood frozen, utterly dumbfounded.


    His jaw dropped, hanging there as if he’d forgotten how to close it. Not once in his life had he heard Hamilton speak with such warmth, such unsettling friendliness.


    From the sidelines, he studied Dani’s sharp profile, an uneasy weight settling in his chest—his position as heir had never felt so fragile.


    “Titles don’t concern me,” Dani said coolly. “Your actions, however, do.”


    It was a challenge—clear, direct, and impossible to ignore.


    A chill ran down Niks’ spine. He braced himself, fully expecting Hamilton’s temper to erupt.


    Without thinking, he stepped back, waiting for the inevitable—the phone mming, the explosion of rage.


    But to his shock, Hamilton didn’t explode—heughed. A rich, heartyugh.


    “It was just a test, no need to be so tense. Your reputation as Cealmaur’s leader is well-earned. Even handling Ghost seemed effortless for you.”


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    Dani’s brow lifted ever so slightly.


    She hadn’t done a thing to Ghost.


    But if Hamilton believed it, then Ghost must have made a move that afternoon.


    Who, then, had dealt with Ghost?


    Dani had no answers, but she owed a silent debt to whoever had shielded Cedric.


    And so, she yed along, choosing to shield the unknown figure and feed Hamilton a lie.


    Her voice remained steady, but the warning was razor-sharp. “Make sure there isn’t a next time, or Niks might not make it back to Oiscoll in one piece.”


    Niks swallowed hard, lost for words.


    Hamilton, unbothered as ever, spoke like a doting elder, his voice smooth with a smile. “Dani, may I call you that? When will you and Cedric visit Oiscoll? I’d love the pleasure of meeting you both.”


    The invitation wasid out—tempting yetced with hidden intent.


    Dani wasn’t reckless enough to waltz into Hamilton’s domain and hand him an advantage. “We’ll see. And onest thing—don’t push Cedric into anything against his will. You won’t like what happens if you do.”


    Hamilton chuckled, low and knowing.


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