?Chapter 1144:


    Yvonne immediately sat up, recognizing the voice. As Norton was about to hang up, she grabbed his hand, stopping him.


    He looked at her, sighed, and adjusted his tone. “Don’t panic,” he said calmly into the phone. “Take a breath. Start from the beginning.” His calm voice was like a lifeline.


    Shelly clung to it, pouring out everything—Heidi’s stalking, the midnight calls, the bloody letter, and the attack in the parking lot.


    As she spoke, Norton tapped his fingers on the table, his brows drawing together slightly.


    Once she finished, he said only, “Got it,” and ended the call. He turned to Yvonne. “Didn’t Heidi try to frame you before?”


    “She did,” Yvonne replied with a click of her tongue. “She’s totally lost it.”


    “Stay alert for the next few days,” Norton said, looking at her with a softened gaze.


    Yvonne frowned slightly. “Why’s she going after Shelly so hard anyway?”


    From what Shelly had said, Heidi had been threatening her for money—and when Shelly refused and turned her in, that seemed to be what sent Heidi over the edge.


    Norton gently ruffled Yvonne’s hair. “She probably snapped. Complete breakdown.”


    But Yvonne wasn’t convinced. She shook her head slowly. “I don’t know… I feel like there’s more to this. Something doesn’t add up.”


    Norton gave a faint smile but didn’t answer.


    After a brief silence, Yvonne gave up trying to figure it out and turned back toward the TV.


    “You keep watching. I need to take care of something,” Norton said as he stood and headed upstairs.


    Yvonne nodded absently, not giving it much thought.


    Once in his study, Norton’s expression shifted. He called Leif. “Leif, I need eyes on Heidi,” he ordered. “Track her every move. And make sure Yvonne is protected. I don’t want Heidi getting within a mile of her.” He paused, then added, “Also… dig into her background. I want to know everything.”


    Leif immediately got to work, diving into the investigation without dy.


    Just as Norton ended the call with him, his phone buzzed again.


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    A message from Shelly. She had sent a photo of herself lying in a hospital bed, wearing a hospital gown. Her message followed right after: “I’ve been hospitalized for nervous exhaustion. Could youe visit me?”


    Norton nced at the screen—and ignored it.


    The next day, at the hospital.


    Norton stepped into the room with a cold, heavy presence. His face was like stone—dark, unreadable.


    Shelly’s eyes lit up the moment she saw him. But that excitement quickly melted into a forced look of fragility. She lifted a hand weakly to her forehead, her voice soft and breathy.


    “Norton, you’re here…”


    Norton remained by the door, unmoved.


    He hadn’t nned to visit her at all. In fact, if it weren’t for the results of Leif’s investigation, he wouldn’t be here now.


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