?Chapter 116:


    “Are you out of your mind?” Her eyes bore into Noah, filled with both anger and fear.


    Noah paid no attention to her protests, carrying her effortlessly and heading straight for the dining table. He ced her onto a chair with a firm but controlled motion.


    His stare was cold as he looked down at her.


    “Is this some kind of threat, refusing to eat or drink?”


    Sadie was baffled by his actions. She had no desire to argue or engage with him; she only wanted to escape this oppressive environment as soon as possible.


    Her eyes quickly swept to the wall clock—it read eight-thirty. The guards at the gate would switch shifts at nine o’clock, which was her window for escape, coordinated with Alex’s arrival.


    Noah took the seat opposite Sadie, his expression as cold as ever. “You won’t leave this table until you’ve eaten,” he said, his voice leaving no room for negotiation.


    K observed the escting tension with growing annoyance.


    She had intended to thwart Sadie’s n to flee, not anticipating that Noah would care so much about Sadie.


    He even got furious just because she had skipped a meal.


    A sharp pang of jealousy hit K, feeling excluded and unnoticed.


    Sadie clenched her jaw, silently working out her next move. Her only thought was to get out.


    Despite herck of hunger, Sadie feigned cooperation to minimize conflict with Noah.


    She reached for the serving spoon, selected a piece of fish steak, ced it on her te, and began eating without any real interest.


    The vor of the sauce coated her tongue, yet it failed to appeal to her taste buds.


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    As she chewed without enjoyment, her gaze flicked towards the clock intermittently.


    With each passing minute, her tension mounted.


    Once Noah observed Sadie consuming a few bites, he seemed to rx somewhat.


    He filled a ss with water and set it next to Sadie’s hand.


    A spark of inspiration shed in Sadie’s eyes.


    She feigned a casual gesture and identally knocked the ss over.


    Water cascaded out, saturating Noah’s suit with a spreading dark patch.


    “Argh! Are you alright, Noah? Did that scald you?” K sprang into action, pulling out paper towels and hastily trying to dry Noah’s suit, her expression etched with worry.


    Her voice thick with disapproval, she scolded, “Sadie, how could you be so clumsy?”


    Sadie dismissed K’s criticism, ignoring herpletely, and continued with her meal as though the incident hadn’t urred.


    A scowl formed on Noah’s face, and he uttered a grunt of irritation before standing.


    “I need to go change,” he said, his voice filled with cold fury.


    Immediately, Sadie ced her fork down.


    With determination, she got up, nning to shut herself in the bedroom and bar Noah from entering.


    But as she took her first step, K’s sharp voice stopped her cold. “Where do you think you’re heading, Sadie?” K’s words were tinged with sarcasm.


    Caught off guard, Sadie stopped and turned around in surprise to face K.


    “Trying to make a getaway through the window?” K sneered, her voice full of contempt.


    A wave of cold fear washed over Sadie.


    K’s correct guess about her escape n unnerved her.


    Sadie’splexion drained of color.


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