?Chapter 696:


    All his reactions since then felt strangely familiar to Samuel.


    A troubling thought shed through his mind.


    Why did Mr. Noel’s voice so closely resemble Mr. Wall’s?


    Samuel’s pulse quickened.


    He pushed the thought aside.


    With aposed gesture, he signaled the bodyguards.


    “Let’s step back for now. No one approaches this area without my say.”


    The bodyguards nodded in unison. “Yes, sir.” Silently, Samuel led them away.


    Meanwhile, Hailey had returned alone to the suburban vi.


    The vi was aze with lights yet felt unsettlingly vacant.


    She pulled out her phone.


    Still no answer from Noah.


    Hailey’s brow furrowed, a surge of worry washing over her.


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    What was happening? Why wasn’t he answering? Could he possibly be with Sadie?


    The thought struck Hailey forcefully.


    No, that couldn’t be right!


    Noah loathed that woman.


    Perhaps he was simply too busy to notice his phone.


    That had to be the exnation.


    Despite her attempts to reassure herself, a nagging unease persisted. She set down her phone and began pacing the living room, lost in thought.


    As morning arrived, sunlight crept through the blinds, gently illuminating Sadie’s face.


    She blinked open her eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling above her. Her body felt as though it had been disassembled and pieced back together.


    Sadie frowned, slowly propping herself up into a sitting position.


    The air still held a faint, lingering fragrance.


    Memories of the previous night—familiar yet elusive sensations—gradually filled her mind.


    Suddenly, Sadie froze.


    She recalled being drugged, her consciousness bing foggy, then everything turning fragmented.


    She remembered seeing Noah.


    Yes, Noah!


    Her heart raced as she hastily threw off the covers.


    The white sheets bore vivid, unmistakable traces ofst night’s fervor. Instinctively, Sadie scanned the room for Noah.


    She checked the bed, the bathroom, the walk-in closet—no sign of anyone.


    Her heart sank.


    As she walked to the bedside, her eyes inadvertently swept across the floor.


    A silver masky there.


    It was identical to the one Patrick always wore.


    Could it be… the manst night wasn’t Noah, but Patrick?


    Yet, that blurred face—she couldn’t have been mistaken.


    Sadie clutched the mask tightly, her heart heavy with confusion and dread.


    Just then, a knock at the door broke her contemtion.


    “Ms. Hudson, are you awake?” Samuel’s voice came through. She took a moment to steady her nerves.


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