?Chapter 169:


    The masked man struggled to decipher Cole’s feelings toward Elliana, and Merritt, watching closely through the monitors, found himself equally confused. For a moment, he didn’t know what move to make. At that exact moment, Paige’s call came through.


    “I’ve already had Elliana killed.”


    “What did you just say?” Merritt’s eyes widened in shock. “Paige, how could you act without checking with me first? If Colepletely loses control and retaliates here on the yacht, none of us will make it out alive!”


    “You’re overthinking it,” Paige replied, her tone full of confidence. “Didn’t Cole just say Elliana means nothing to him? So what are you so afraid of?”


    “But just now, when my deputy suggested killing Elliana, Cole got furious.”


    “He’s just putting on a show because his grandfather forced him into that unwanted marriage with Elliana. If you reveal yourself now and handle things head-on, he might even feel he owes you a favor.”


    “But…” Merritt was still hesitant.


    Growing impatient, Paige pressed him harder. “There’s no time to waste! Cole hasn’t figured out yet that you’re the one behind this. Right now, he probably thinks it’s some petty gang trying to extort him. If we let him keep thinking that, he might actually go on a rampage. But if you step forward now, he’ll have no choice but to show you respect. You’re still a major force in Ublento. Nobody wants you as an enemy.”


    Merritt had wed his way up from a lowly dock thug to the feared boss he was now, all because of his ruthless mind. Yet, when faced with Cole—and the unexpected appearance of An, Merlin, and Manley—he found himself shaken. Paige’s persistent arguments chipped away at his judgment, clouding his ability to think clearly.


    With no children or rtives of his own, Merritt had taken Paige in as his goddaughter and genuinely saw her as the closest person in his life, cing his trust in her without question. Caught in the pressure of the moment, he made a swift decision. “Alright, Paige. I’ll take your advice.”


    Once the call ended, Merritt, nked by his guards dressed in ck, made his way toward the main hall.


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    Tension filled the air as Merritt entered. The masked man, who had been visibly floundering, spotted Merritt and quickly stepped aside like a drowning man finding a lifeline.


    Without hesitation, Merritt sat down on the same sofa the masked man had just vacated. Wearing a polite smile, he looked at Cole. “Mr. Evans, my subordinate spoke out of turn and disrespected you. I apologize for that.”


    Cole showed no surprise at Merritt’s appearance. Like Elliana, he had long pieced things together and figured out that the mastermind behind it all was Merritt.


    While Merritt tried to appear friendly, Cole’s gaze held a shadowed edge, and his voice cut through the air with a cold sharpness. “So you’ve finally decided to show yourself, Merritt.”


    Merritt was caught off guard that Cole had already deduced he was pulling the strings. Thankfully, he had chosen to reveal himself now—anyter, and Cole’s patience might have snapped.


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