?Chapter 431:


    Noah stiffened, momentarily caught off guard.


    He crossed the room and crouched beside the child.


    Averi was dressed in pajamas patterned with cartoon characters, his slightly messy hair and tear-streaked cheeks making him look even smaller.


    Noah had never seen this side of him before.


    Sadie had always made sure Averi was happy and content.


    Averi sniffled.


    “Breck said Mom had something to do and told me to be good and sleep. But… but I can’t sleep.”


    Noah reached out, running a hand gently through the boy’s soft hair.


    “She’ll be back soon,” Noah reassured him.


    Averi’s gaze lifted, full of cautious hope.


    “Really?”


    “Really.” Noah nodded affirmatively.


    He picked up a red toy Ferrari from Averi’s hand.


    “This one’s your favorite, isn’t it?”


    Averi nodded, a small spark returning to his eyes.


    Noah set the toy on the floor and gave it a gentle push, watching it glide across the carpet.


    “Look how fast it goes.”


    Averi’s focus shifted, a grin forming as he watched the car roll forward.


    For a while, Noah sat with him, ying along. Soon, the boy becamepletely absorbed in his toys, no longer bringing up Sadie.


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    As Noah watched him, a wave of unspoken emotions washed over him.


    The darkness outside pressed against the windowpanes.


    Sadie sat beside Laura’s bed, her gaze resting on Laura’s peacefully sleeping face.


    Laura’s breathing was steady and even.


    Sadie exhaled quietly, though the weight in her chest remained.


    She had no desire to return to Myrtlewood Estate—a ce that felt suffocating, filled with nothing but heartache.


    All she wanted was to take Laura and Averi somewhere far from it all, where they could live a quiet, uplicated life.


    The small apartment she had rented, though modest, at least offered them shelter.


    There, she didn’t have to navigate the endless conflicts with the Wall family or fend off K’s maniptions. It would just be her, Laura, and Averi—looking after one another.


    The thought sparked a fragile glimmer of hope in her heart.


    She picked up her phone and dialed Samuel’s number.


    The ringing tone echoed in the silence, making her pulse quicken.


    “Samuel, it’s me.” Her voice was soft, carrying the slightest tremor.


    “Mrs. Wall, good evening,” came a polite response.


    “I don’t want to go back to Myrtlewood Estate anymore.” Sadie took a steadying breath, forcing herself to say it aloud.


    A pause stretched between them before Samuel finally responded, his tone uncertain.


    “Pardon?”


    “I mean, I want to bring my grandmother and Averi to stay with me in the ce I’m renting,” Sadie replied, her voice firm with determination.


    “Well, this is…” Samuel hesitated, clearly uneasy. “Mrs. Wall, I don’t have the authority to decide that. Mr. Wall’s consent is necessary.”


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