?Chapter 1555:


    Right now, with Carol refusing to let up, he finally understood what it meant to have no way out.


    He found himself frozen under her intense stare, feeling as though every secret he’d tried to hide was suddenly exposed.<fnde3a> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find{n}ovel</fnde3a>


    “I’m not scared, alright?” Any hint of defiance he’d had was gone, reced by an uneasy flicker in his eyes. He looked away and asked, “What’s there to be afraid of anyway?”


    A smallugh slipped from Carol. “Is that so? Because I’m not going anywhere.”


    Frustration crept onto Niks’ face, and he moved forward, trying to bridge the gap between them.


    Carol lowered her head, her eyes locked on him as he tried to close the distance. Yet before anything else could happen, Niks pressed his lips into a thin line and backed away, suddenly hesitant.


    That only made Carol’s lips curl into a sly grin as she folded her arms, looking every bit like she was enjoying the standoff.


    “You’re walking out of here, whether you like it or not,” Niks said.


    Carol arched a brow, her eyes gleaming with challenge. “Really? You’re going to force me? Tell me, Niks, would you risk everything just to keep me safe? Or do you honestly believe my life matters more to you than your own?”


    By now, Carol had pushed him right to his breaking point. A straightforward answer was all she’d hoped for.


    Instead, what came next wasn’t even close to what she wanted to hear. “I’ll be fine. Trust me, I know exactly what I’m doing,” Niks insisted, already beginning to pull back.


    Carol watched him for a moment, then whispered, “Coward.”


    Raising her voice, she turned to the group waiting upstairs. “You three, that’s enough waiting. Come down here.”


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    A lightugh slipped from Dani as she made her way down, Cedric and Damon following after her.


    Though Dani didn’t say a word to Niks, the look she gave him said plenty. When it came to affairs of the heart, she always kept her distance.


    But that didn’t stop Niks’ cheeks from turning pink.


    Sidling up beside Carol, Dani leaned in and whispered, “Don’t tease him too hard. He’s sensitive. If he bolts, you’ll regret it.”


    Carol kept her mouth shut, her lips pressed into a line. She never liked prolonging situations like this. While there was plenty she wanted to clear up with Niks, now wasn’t the moment for it.


    Watching Carol finally let the matter drop, Niks breathed out in obvious relief.


    Catching that, Dani just shook her head in amusement.


    “Let’s get to what really matters,” Niks began, quicklyunching into his n. Once he finished exining, he shot a look at the clock. “We’re almost out of time. Bags are ready, so you all need to get going.”


    Dani offered a crooked smile. “You honestly think the guards sent by your uncle scare me?”


    Niks couldn’t believe how unfazed Dani seemed. He’d figured she’d bolt the moment she heard the details. But that calm, steady look never left her face.


    “If you’re smart, you’ll take your dad’s advice and leave with Damon,” Dani added, her voice cool and measured. “The rest of us can manage whates next.”


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