?Chapter 1310:
Immediately, Noah came to mind. Perhaps something urgent had kept him from entering the hall. Brushing aside her questions, Sadie nodded to the server. “Show me where he is.”
He led her swiftly through a maze of corridors and stopped before a secluded lounge. With a small bow, he slipped away.
Sadie drew a slow, steadying breath, squared her shoulders, and pushed open the heavy wooden door. Inside, the roomy in deep shadow, the curtains drawn tight against the world beyond. A lone figure stood motionless at the window, back turned to her.
The faint creak of the door drew his attention. He turned slowly, candlelight glinting off a cool, silver mask that concealed most of his features. Only a pair of deep, unfathomable eyes met hers.
Shock pulsed through Sadie. Her heart thundered as suspicion tightened around her. She had never encountered anyone like him. The mask only deepened the mystery, and dread began to coil quietly in the back of her mind.
Sadie reminded herself that she was the host tonight and steadied herposure, refusing to let nerves take over. Offering a subtle nod, she kept her tone measured. “May I know your name, sir?”
The man’s movements were deliberate as he stepped into the faint pool of light. Dark, unreadable eyes peered out from behind the cold metallic mask.
“You must be Sadie, daughter of Brenda,” he said, his voice low and gravelly, each word pronounced with careful intent.
At the mention of her mother’s name, an icy shiver slid up Sadie’s spine and settled deep in her bones. The name Brenda rarely passed the lips of strangers, and hearing it from this masked man sent a spike of dread through her. Unease twisted in her chest, growing sharper by the second. An instinctive urge to step back seized her, but her legs refused to obey. In that moment, she realized this encounter carried real danger.
Meanwhile, across the hall, Noah scanned the lively crowd, wine ss in hand, searching for Sadie’s familiar silhouette. Earlier, he had watched her handle business matters with confidence. A faint crease appeared in his brow as concern crept in. Amid the chaos and noise, one question haunted him: Was Sadie safe?
Noah set his ss on a nearby table and weaved through the bustling venue, eyes darting to every corner. He checked in with a handful of familiar faces, but none had seen her. With every vague answer, his worry deepened.
Eventually, a waiter who had noticed Noah’s anxious pacing approached him quietly. “Mr. Wall, are you searching for Ms. Hudson? I saw her walking toward the lounge area earlier.” He gestured toward a shadowed corridor at the rear of the banquet hall.
Without hesitation, Noah strode in that direction, urgency propelling him forward. One lounge after another, he opened door after door, finding only silence and empty rooms. The sense of dread settled in his chest and tightened with every step. Sadie’s whereabouts remained a troubling mystery.
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Just then, ine appeared at his side, swirling a ss of champagne. He caught sight of Noah’s tense expression and remarked with concern, “You look rattled. Did you see a ghost or something?”
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