?Chapter 1143:


    Once Maia stepped out of Zoey’s residence, she wasted no time dialing Pattie’s number.


    The call barely rang before Pattie picked up. “Maia! Atst, you’re calling!” Her tone wasced with relief but underscored by sharp urgency. “I’ve been reaching out nonstop, but you never answered. Did you meet the person you were supposed to? Is Rnd still in danger?”


    “Without giving Maia space to reply, Pattie rushed on. “Listen, Rnd nearly pulled off another stunt. If I hadn’t brought in the best security team, he’d be halfway down the fire escape by now, probably breaking his neck in the process.”


    The news left Maia momentarily silent, caught between exasperation and disbelief. It struck her how words always seemed to slip away when the mind faltered. A hand went to her forehead as she tried to gather herself.


    “I couldn’t answer earlier, but things have been settled. However, keep Rnd from bolting again. I need to speak with him in person,” Maia said, her tone steady but edged with concern. “Make sure he understands this is about Zoey Cooper.”


    “Zoey Cooper? Who’s that?” Pattie blinked in surprise, then recovered and said, “Alright. I’ll go talk to Rnd now.”


    “Do it. Just keep him from leaving,” Maia answered, and she ended the call while picking up her pace, worry still clinging to her.


    What Zoey had revealed made it clear to Maia that Rnd was trying to honor his mentor Neville’s final wish by reopening Zoey’s case. Allowing him to move forward now would wreck the careful strategy Zoey had been shaping for years.


    While Rnd pushed for his mentor’s cause, Maia had to strive for her mentor too.


    She was certain that Zoey had never murdered Kyle. Therefore, Maia had to clear her mentor’s name. Remembering Chris’ lost chance to see his grandfather and all that Zoey had suffered, Maia felt a fierce urge to seize control of Cooper Group, secure it for Chris, and bring everything to an end.


    Shiloh arrived not long after Maia’s call had ended.


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    “Miss Watson, is everything settled?” he asked with a grin as he stepped out. “Did it all go as nned?”


    Maia scanned the street, wary of Kolton’s men lurking in the shadows, and slipped behind the wheel without a word. Seeing that, Shiloh just shrugged, refraining from further questions, and got into the back seat.


    The hum of the engine filled the silence before Maia finally muttered, “Thanks for lending a hand. It worked out fine.”


    “Just doing my part,” Shiloh said, sliding a phone from his pocket and pressing the call button with deliberate ease.


    Inside the sleek ck Buick, a faint buzz rattled the phone resting on the narrow table in the second row.


    Shiloh’s name lit up on the screen.


    Recliningfortably, Raegan let a slow smile tug at her mouth. She rejected the call without hesitation, then scrolled to another contact and pressed dial.


    “Maia is on her way out of Wront Prison. Be prepared.”


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