?Chapter 1372:


    A steely look crept into her eyes as she continued.


    “Don’t get the wrong idea. He didn’t step in because I’m his daughter.” A harsh, almost mocking smile crossed her lips.


    “He only cares about one thing. He doesn’t want my mother’s sacrifices to end up benefiting his enemies. That’s all this is.”


    Sadie’s words cast a heavy shadow over the living room once again.


    Hurst studied the tense faces around him, weighing his options carefully before sliding a brown envelope from his suit’s inner pocket.


    “I discovered this at West Port, moments before Emerson’s men tracked me down.”


    The envelope passed from his hands with deliberate ceremony.


    All eyes locked onto the mysterious package instantly.


    Age had yellowed its edges and softened its corners, though the wax seal held firm against time’s touch.


    Sadie’s fingers closed around it, detecting the whisper-thin paper nestled within.


    Rather than tear it open, she paused thoughtfully.


    Hurst was a shrewd man—he knew exactly when to act and what to do. Presenting this envelope now served twin purposes: deflecting attention from the current tension while proving his continued worth to their cause.


    Smart positioning would secure his ce beside Noah and Sadie, preventing Emerson from disposing of him when convenience demanded.


    Turning the envelope revealed a cryptic sequence of letters and numbers scrawled across its back.


    Clearly, a coded message awaited decryption.


    Her gaze found ine, and she pressed the envelope into his hands.


    “Find someone reliable to crack this code immediately.”


    ine’s yful mask slipped away, reced by grim determination as he epted the responsibility.


    “Don’t worry, Sadie. I’ll take care of it.” He knew how important this could be.


    gα?ησν????s???оm, your fiction hub


    Just then, Breck came in from outside, looking a bit worried.


    “Everyone, Mr. Howe has arrived.”


    Before the announcement fully settled, a figure burst through the entrance with barely contained urgency. It was Alex.


    His suit bore wrinkles from obvious distress, his tie hung at an awkward angle, and his hair fell in disheveled strands across his forehead. Anxiety carved sharp lines.


    into his handsome features. “Sadie!” His eyes swept the living room frantically before finding their target.


    Relief flooded through Alex the moment he confirmed Sadie’s safety, and his rigid posture crumpled as tension finally released its grip on him.


    Without hesitation, he crossed the room and positioned himself protectively in front of Sadie.


    Gone was his usual gentle demeanor, reced by something cold and dangerous.


    “Noah Wall!” Barely controlled rage simmered beneath Alex’s strained voice. “How much longer will you keep putting her in harm’s way before you’re satisfied?”


    Terror had consumed himpletely.


    Learning of Sadie’s disappearance had felt like watching his entire world crumble into ash.


    Now that she stood before him unharmed, that fear twisted into bitter resentment directed squarely at Noah.


    .


    .


    .