?Chapter 3006:


    Emotion burned in his eyes, leaving them faintly red.


    “Thank you, Mr. Scott. Truly, thank you.”


    Eric huffed a soft, icy chuckle. “Save your gratitude for Hadley.”


    Phillips pieced it together swiftly. Hadley had likely gone to bat for him.


    “Got it!” Phillips nodded with gusto. “I understand!”


    “Fine then.” Eric dismissed him with a flick of his hand. “Head out. It’s still not toote to find Xander and set things right.”


    “Right away!” Phillips consented, retreating a few paces before slipping from the study.


    After a brief pause to gather his thoughts, he made his way to the master bedroom and rapped gently on the door.


    “Knocking now?” Hadley’s voice floated out, mistaking him for Eric. “That’s a twist.”


    “Hadley, it’s Phillips,” Phillips said, lingering politely at the threshold.


    ???????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ??????????????????.??????


    Inside, Hadley paused for a moment before walking over to open the door, her lips curving into a friendly smile. “Phillips, you’ve seen Eric?”


    “Yes.” Phillips returned her smile. “Thank you.”


    “Alright,” Hadley said with warmth in her eyes, “I’ll take your thanks… but you’ll have to work hard from now on.”


    “No problem,” Phillips chuckled. “It’s only fair. Well, I’ll get going. You should rest.”


    “Phillips,” Hadley called softly, ncing toward the study to make sure the door was shut before lowering her voice. “Eric may not say much, but you know he cares about you. He took you in from the orphanage. When he looks at you, it’s like he’s looking at himself… He always sees you as his own brother.”


    Phillips froze for a second, then nodded, his voice quiet. “Yes, I know.”


    “He has cultivated you to be just as remarkable as he is.” Hadley went on, her smile gentle. “He’s mad at you exactly because he cares about you, so your ‘betrayal’ seems unforgivable. Give him a little time to cool down.”


    “Of course.” Phillips nodded quickly. “It’s my fault. He has every right to be upset.”


    “That’s good,” Hadley said with a lightugh. “Now off you go, you’ve got plenty to do.”


    “Alright.”


    In Ontmond, Ernest’s private jet touched down smoothly, and a group of Quentin’s men were already waiting at the airport.


    “Mr. Flynn.”


    “Yes,” Ernest acknowledged with a curt nod as he stepped out. “We’ll talk in the car.”


    “Yes, sir.”


    They climbed into the car and sped toward the estate where Elissa was staying.


    “What’s the situation?” Ernest asked.


    “Sir, we’ve found some leads over the past few hours,” the subordinate began. “The estate is officially registered under one of Mr. Brown’s friends.”


    A friend of Neville’s?


    .


    .


    .