?Chapter 118:


    A bitterugh escaped Sadie’s lips. “I can’t escape,” she murmured, her chest heavy. This was Noah’s domain, surrounded by his people. She might never get another chance if anyone found her trying to leave.


    Sadie pulled out her phone, the light from the screen casting an eerie glow on her pale face. Her fingers trembled as the seconds ticked by, each moment pressing harder on her chest. Time was running out.


    Taking a steadying breath, Sadie dialed Alex’s number.


    “Hello?” Alex’s voice sounded puzzled. He was confused by the sudden call.


    “It’s me,” Sadie replied, her voice low and hoarse, as though every word required immense effort.


    “Sadie? What’s wrong?” Alex’s tone shifted instantly as he picked up on the unease in her voice. He sounded anxious, almost rmed.


    “The n’s canceled,” Sadie said, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath to steady her trembling voice. “K found out. She won’t let me leave.”


    “What?!” Alex’s voice rose sharply. “How did she find out?”


    “I don’t know,” Sadie admitted, her voice heavy with frustration. “This n was too risky. I never agreed to it,” Alex said, his words sharp with regret.


    “I didn’t have a choice!” Sadie replied, bitterness crawling up her throat. “There was nothing else I could do.”


    “You need to get out of Myrtlewood Estate, somewhere public, somewhere crowded,” Alex advised, his voice calm but urgent. “A mall, a big event, anywhere you can disappear into a crowd.”


    “I’ll figure it out,” Sadie murmured, her tone resigned.


    Sadie ended the call without another word, tossing the phone onto the bed in frustration. Helplessness wed at her chest.


    Downstairs, Noah sat on the sofa, his expression dark and unreadable. K approached with a sweet smile, settling beside Noah and curling close to him. Her voice dripped with sweetness as she said, “Noah, the Maple Group CEO’s wedding anniversary party is the day after tomorrow. Why don’t we go together?”


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    Noah frowned, a flicker of impatience crossing his face. He gently pushed her hand away. “No. I have other ns.”


    K’s lips formed a small pout, her tone turning yfully whiny. “But it’s so boring here. A party would be so much more fun.”


    K paused momentarily, then, as if a thought had just crossed her mind, added, “By the way, I heard Sadie has worked with Maple Group before. She should probably go too. Otherwise, she’ll just stay locked in her room and get sick.”


    Noah’s gaze shifted to K, his expression sharpening with suspicion. He studied her briefly before asking, his voice low, “Since when did you start caring about her?”


    Though K was shaken, she maintained herposure and offered a strained smile.


    “It would be best if we went together. I’d prefer you not to bring anyone else. After all, your divorce is imminent.”


    Noah averted his eyes and responded tly, “We can discuss that.” He got up and headed directly to the study, leaving K by the sofa.


    When the door to the study clicked shut, the forced smile disappeared from K’s face, giving way to a chilling, calcting look.


    She checked the clock; it was almost nine.


    Rising, she made her way to the courtyard and gazed up at the lit window of Sadie’s room on the second floor, her expression a mix of emotions.


    The light in the room was on, the window ajar, yet Sadie was out of sight.


    K’s sneer emerged. Clearly, Sadie had abandoned her naive scheme. As the guards changed shifts, K covertly took out her phone and dialed a secured number.


    “Hello, it’s me,” she whispered, her voiceced with subtle tension. “At the Maple Group CEO’s wedding celebration in two days, it’s time to act.”


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