?Chapter 701:


    All at once, she was ovee with a sense of urgency. Gritting her teeth behind her stiff smile, she retrieved a stack of cash from her purse and handed it to the driver. “Thank you for today. Take this and treat yourself to a drink.”


    The driver drew back in surprise and waved his hands to refuse the money. “I can’t ept this, Ms. Burgess. I was only doing my job.”


    But Hailey insisted, going so far as to press the cash into his hands. “Take it. You deserve it. If anythinges up in the future, let me know, all right?”


    Her voice was gentle and kind, with only the faintest hint of intention. It was enough for the driver to understand her meaning, though. He nodded gratefully. “Thank you, Ms. Burgess. I’ll be sure to keep you informed.”


    Hailey offered a satisfied smile. “Go on, get some rest.” She gave a small wave, casually dismissing the driver.


    Relieved, he didn’t hesitate—slipping behind the wheel and pulling away from the vi, tires crunching softly against the gravel.


    Hailey stood still, her eyes following the car until it vanished into the horizon. The moment it was gone, her smile fell, like a mask dropping. In its ce—ice. Cold. Calcted. Unforgiving. She wouldn’t let Sadie steal what belonged to her. Not now. Not ever.


    At Riverside Vi, the morning air was still. Briley emerged, half-awake,zily slinging her bag over one shoulder as she prepared to leave.


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    Coyle was sitting on the leather sofa, flipping through a stack of glossy photographs. Elegant smiles, poised stances—young women from Jazmah’s most influential families. Each was a potential match for his son, Sutton, in his grand n to secure the future of his family.


    Then—A scream tore through the quiet.


    “Ahhh!”


    Coyle’s brow creased, irritation surfacing. What was this?


    He grabbed his cane and got up to check what was happening. His voice echoed down the hall, sharp and disapproving. “What now, Briley? Why the hell are you screaming at this hour?”


    Briley stumbled back inside, her face drained of color, her finger trembling as she pointed toward the door.


    “Dad… outside… there’s someone—covered in blood—it’s awful! I think it’s a vagrant or something!”


    A vagrant? Here?


    Coyle’s frown deepened. He made his way to the entrance, his cane tapping steadily across the floor.


    And then he saw it—A figure sprawled at the vi’s threshold, crumpled and soaked in grime and blood. His hair was matted, clothes torn, face barely recognizable.


    “Help… please, help me…”


    Coyle leaned in, taking a closer look.


    His breath caught. It wasn’t a vagrant. It was Sutton. His son.


    “Sutton!”


    Coyle’s roar echoed through the vi as he rushed forward, barking orders for someone to bring his son to the nearest hospital. Briley was pale as a ghost, barely registering the chaos around her.


    At the hospital, the antiseptic scent did nothing to mask the dread thickening in Coyle’s chest. The doctor emerged atst, his expression grim.


    “Mr. Wall,” he said gently, “I’m very sorry. We did everything we could. Your son has sustained multiple injuries—five broken ribs, a crushed femur. His left leg… we had no choice. It had to be amputated.” The doctor hesitated, then added, more quietly, “There’s more. His reproductive organs were… deliberately targeted. I’m afraid this will impact the rest of his life in ways we can’t yet fully measure.”


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