?Chapter 1023:


    Anyone who threatened his daughter deserved a swift end.


    “Damn it! Hold on a second!” Cade shouted in a panic, veins standing out on his forehead. “This whole mess was a coincidence. I had no clue why your daughter was digging into Maia Watson. I only gave her a fake address to keep Maia safe. Who could’ve guessed it would blow up like this?”


    He sucked in a deep breath and pressed on, “I swear I’m telling the truth. Didn’t your Cooper Group sh with Maia? I acted because I support her. She’s someone I respect, a legend in Wront known for her courage.”


    Yet no matter what he said, Hurst’s expression remained unmoved, his eyes devoid of any trust.


    He only nced at his watch. “Two minutes.”


    “Fuck! Are you even hearing me?” Cade snapped, frustration boiling over, ready to fight to the end.


    “Do whatever you want! Kill me if that’s your n!” He clenched his teeth and spat out a sneer. “Hurst Cooper, don’t think I didn’t see it—you’ve got feelings for Maia, don’t you?”


    Those words hit like a stone cast into water.


    Cade made onest, desperate plea. “Let me go, and I can be of use to you.”


    Hurst’s eyes lifted, holding a steady re for several moments before he let his lids fall shut once more.


    Not missing the unspoken order, his subordinate reached for the pistol at his waist. The sound of the slide snapping into ce sliced through the tense air.


    A tight knot formed in Cade’s throat, but he forced his voice to rise. “I’ve dug up something about Maia—about her real parents. She’s been desperate to learn where she came from. This could put you in her good graces. End me now, and you’ll regret it for the rest of your life,” he shouted, his words tumbling out in urgency.


    Find your favorite stories at g ? ln σ ν?? ??s., conn


    Hurst stayed silent for a moment, then replied calmly, “Wait.”


    His subordinate immediately lowered the gun.<fneef0> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? FιndNovel</fneef0>


    Hurst slowly opened his eyes, a faint smile forming on his lips. “You’re right. I’m a man who deals in opportunities. If you had this kind of leverage, you should have put it on the table sooner.”


    He rose from his seat, eyes scanning the area with quiet authority. “Why are you still standing there? Release my friend.”


    A nervous swallow moved through Cade’s throat, the weight of relief settling on him for the moment.


    Behind the calm fa?ade, Hurst revealed a side of himself few ever got to witness.


    The word “friend” lingered in Cade’s mind, wrapped in bitter irony.


    In fact, Cade had lied.


    He hadn’t found any concrete information about Maia’s parents.


    All he had uncovered was Maia’s n to dig into their past, with the slums as her next destination.


    Inside Maia’s hospital room, Chris’ eyes were fixed on his phone, a faint curve of amusement tugging at his lips.


    Glowing on the screen was a private message from his online friend, Winters. “Justiceze, I need to know something. You’ve always been fiercely protective of Maia online. Is there something more?” The words nearly made Chrisugh out loud.


    .


    .


    .