?Chapter 550:


    Embracing Averi tightly, Sadie whispered into his ear, “Averi, Mommy will always protect you. I’ll never leave you.” Her voice was both resolute and tender. This was her vow to Averi and to herself. No matter what challenges the future might bring, she was determined to face them courageously—for Averi and for her own sake.


    Late into the night, Noah returned to the hospital. He entered the room silently and found Sadie and Averi asleep. Sadie clutched Averi close, her expression one of weary devotion.


    A surge of affection washed over Noah. He approached the bed, seated himself quietly, and gazed at Sadie. His look was soft and intense, as if he were trying to capture and preserve her image forever.


    He reached out to gently stroke Sadie’s cheek, savoring the softness of her skin. His touch was feather-light. He was careful not to disturb her sleep.


    Meanwhile, at the Howe family’s vi, the atmosphere was tense and silent. In the darkness of his room, Alex sat by the window, the glow of his phone screen the only light, disying the continuous flow of news. “Sadie was kidnapped…”


    “Damn it!” he muttered, his frustration manifesting as he punched the wall.


    He had never expected the situation to escte so dramatically. Furthermore, he found it hard to believe that his father, whom he had always looked up to, could be involved in something so drastic.


    “This can’t just be my father’s doing…” Alex mused, his brow furrowed in thought. “Aliza… She must have orchestrated this. No, I need to uncover the truth.”


    With that resolve, Alex stood up abruptly. He couldn’t sit idly by; he feltpelled to act on Sadie’s behalf.


    Alex took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. He started to rey recent events in his mind, attempting to connect the dots. He recalled his mother’s sudden disappearance, his father’s shifting demeanor, Aliza’s increasing presence, and those enigmatic phone calls.


    Gradually, one clue linked to another in his mind. The more Alex pondered, the more rmed and angry he became. It was hard to ept that the father he had trusted could be such a monstrous figure.


    “I need to find proof.” Alex’s hands clenched into fists, his nails digging into his palms. He was determined to reveal his father’s and Aliza’s true natures and to obtain justice for Sadie.


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    Alex quietly opened his door and stepped into the hallway. The hallway was deserted and unnervingly silent. His heart pounding, he tiptoed toward his father’s study, convinced it contained many secrets.


    The door to the study was shut tight, making his heart beat even faster. He took a deep breath and gently pushed the door open. Inside, the room was enveloped in darkness, unlit and still. Guided by the meager moonlight, Alex felt his way forward.


    He reached the desk and started rummaging through it.


    “What are you doing, Alex?” A cold voice suddenly cut through the silence.


    Alex froze, slowly turning around.


    Terrance stood in the doorway, his expression dark and foreboding.


    Alex was caught off guard; he hadn’t anticipated his father’s sudden appearance.


    “I asked what you are doing,” Terrance’s voice grew louder, tinged with anger.


    “I was just looking for a book to read,” Alex said, his attempt at calmness faltering.


    “A book?” Terrance scoffed. “Do you really expect me to believe that?” He approached Alex, examining him with a prating gaze.


    “Are you investigating me?” Terrance’s tone was low and chilling.


    “I’m not!” Alex responded emphatically, denying the usation.


    “Not?” Terrance grabbed Alex by the cor and mmed him against the wall. “You think I don’t know what you’re up to? You think I’m unaware of your involvement with that woman?”


    Alex’s face nched.


    “Listen to me. You’d better behave!” Terrance’s voice carried an unmistakable threat. “Or you’ll have no one to me but yourself if I take harsh measures.”


    “Dad! Why are you doing this?” Alex’s restraint broke, and he confronted his father loudly. “Why did you kidnap Sadie? Why are you working with the Perry family? What are you trying to achieve?”


    “Silence!” Terrance bellowed. “You have no right to question my actions.” His voice was icy and unforgiving. “Everything I do is for the Howe family and our future.”


    “Our future?” Alexughed bitterly. “Is this so-called future built on the suffering of others? Is it really worth sacrificing your morals for? I’m so disappointed in you, Dad.”


    “Shut your mouth!” Terrance raised a trembling hand, intending to p Alex.


    “Mr. Howe, what are you doing?” the family butler called out, his sudden presence breaking the tension.


    The hapless man stood in the doorway, looking horrified as he processed the scene before him.


    “Get out!” Terrance roared.


    The butler flinched and fled quickly.


    “Come on, Dad, be rational!” Alex pleaded when they were alone again. “You may think your n is for the good of the Howe family, but you’re wrong. It will only lead us to ruin.”


    “What do you know?” Terrance barked at him. “You know nothing!”


    “Nothing?” Alex sneered. “I do know that you’ve been making mistake after mistake. I don’t want to see our family fall because of your actions!”


    “You…” Terrance sputtered, too furious to get the rest of his words out.


    “Dad, please, just stop!” Alex softened his tone slightly. “It’s not toote to turn back.”


    “Impossible!” Terrance dered. “I won’t back down, no matter what! Noah must pay!”


    “Seriously?” Alex asked, utterly bewildered. “But why? Why do you have such a deep-seated hatred for Noah? Is there something I don’t know?”


    “You don’t need to know,” Terrance snapped. “Just remember that I am your father. It may not look like it now, but everything I do is for your own good.”


    “For my own good?” Alex echoed with a bitterugh. “Do you think I’d buy that nonsense?”


    “Believe whatever you want, then!”


    “You’ve really changed, Dad.” Alex’s voice had turned quiet. He paused and gave his father a look of utter disappointment. “Somehow, you’ve be someone I no longer recognize, someone I fear.”


    “I haven’t changed!” Terrance boomed. “I am still your father! I will always be your father.”


    “No, you’re not.” Alex helplessly shook his head. “You’re not the father I once knew.”


    Terrance gritted his teeth, his hands clenched into fists. “I’m not giving up, Dad.”


    Alex met his angry gaze with one of determination. “I will stop you, and I will reveal your true nature!”


    “I dare you!” Terrance yelled.


    “You think I wouldn’t?” Alex countered arrogantly. “For Sadie, for the Howe family, I’m willing to do anything!”


    “You…” Once again, Terrance was so ovee with rage that he could barely speak.


    In the end, he called for his men. “Guards!”


    A group of tall, burly men rushed into the room.


    “Take Alex back to his room and keep a close eye on him!” Terrance ordered. “No one is allowed near him without my permission.”


    “Yes, Mr. Howe!” the men responded in unison, stepping forward to restrain Alex.


    “Let go of me! I said, let me go!” Alex tried to struggle, but he was outnumbered.


    The bodyguards practically hauled him away.


    Terrance watched them go, his expression dark and menacing.


    “It’s you who have disappointed me, Alex,” he muttered to himself. “Since you refused to listen to me, you can’t me me for using drastic measures.”


    He turned to his desk, grabbed the phone, and dialed a number.


    “It’s me,” Terrance’s voice was cold and ruthless. “Move the n up… Yes, as soon as possible. I don’t want to see that woman again… What? Noah? Don’t worry about him. He has his own problems to deal with… Good. That’s all.”


    When he hung up the phone, Terrance wore a sinister smile. “Just you wait, Noah. I will make you regret ever crossing me!”


    Meanwhile, Alex had been safely locked inside his room.


    He suddenly remembered something.


    He strode across the room to his desk, opened a drawer, and fished out an old phone.


    It was his, from when he was much younger. It had gone unused for a long time.


    Holding on to a glimmer of hope, he pressed the power button. The screen immediately lit up, and the battery icon was full.


    A flicker of excitement crossed Alex’s eyes. He quickly dialed a number.


    “Hello?” he said in a shaky voice. “It’s me. My father has locked me up… Yes, at home. Can you help me?”


    A familiar voice came from the other end of the line. “Don’t worry, Alex. I’ll find a way to get you out.”


    “Thank you,” Alex choked out. “You need to be careful. My father—”


    “I know,” the other person interrupted. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of everything.”


    “Okay. I’ll be waiting.”


    Alex ended the call and finally felt a modicum of relief.


    Sadie exhaled slowly, basking in the sense of peace and relief that surged in her chest. Sunlight streamed through the window, adding ayer of warmth to the room and to her heart.


    A nurse pushed a wheelchair into the room and gave Sadie a professional smile. “Congrattions, Miss Hudson! You may be discharged today.”


    Sadie nodded gratefully. She had been through so much in the past few weeks and had endured a lot of physical and emotional stress. Now, it was finallying to an end.


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