Chapter 1760:


    Colette spoke next, her worry raw and unguarded. “I’m not attacking you, Alban, but this shouldn’t be beyond your abilities. I can’t stop thinking about it.” The anxiety had been grinding her down since this began — she was barely sleeping, barely eating, and it showed in every line of her face.


    Time moved without mercy. Each day felt longer than thest, and after everything that had already unfolded, Alban still had nothing to offer them.


    Santos added his voice to the growing pressure. “Are you actually capable of handling this? Because if you’re not, we can take it from here.”


    Alban rose to his feet, the words hitting harder than he’d anticipated.


    “Please,” he said, holding his voice steady with effort. “You’re making this worse. I have it under control. Trust me.”


    He moved past them before anyone could push further. Exhaustion weighted every word as he spoke over his shoulder. “I’m worn out. I’m going to bed.”


    What frightened him most was the thought of his family inserting themselves more deeply into the situation. The more people involved, the greater the risk of things spiraling out of control — and that risk was not abstract. It could put Gillian and Adide in genuine danger.


    Two weeks passed. Whatever reserves of patience Alban had held onto were nowpletely depleted. Every approach he had tried had failed. Gillian had not responded once — not to a single message, not to a single request. She had eventually disabled the option entirely, closing off hisst remaining line of contact.


    By the end of those two weeks, he felt hollowed out. The stretch of days had worn itself visibly into him.


    When he arrived home that evening, defeat trailing after him like a shadow, he steeled himself for the usual questions that waited inside. Instead, Colette seized his arm the moment he stepped through the door.


    “We’re going to the hospital. Right now.” She was already pulling him back toward the exit.


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    Henrik and Santos were close behind. Alban looked over his shoulder, disoriented. “What’s happening? Why the urgency?”


    Henrik’s reply carried the sharp edge of someone who had run out of patience long ago. “Why wouldn’t there be urgency? If I left anything to you, I’d be in the ground before it was resolved.”


    Alban frowned. “What are you talking about?”


    Colette stopped and turned to face him, worry carved deep into her expression. “Adide had surgery today. They say it went well, but she hasn’t woken up yet.”


    “Surgery?” The wordnded like a blow. “I thought only King was capable of treating her condition.”


    “It was King who performed the operation,” Colette said, her eyes steady on his. “And King may be able to help you resolve your other problem as well.”


    Henrik’s tone did not soften. “You’re taking a paternity test the moment we arrive. I’ve already secured Adide’s sample.”


    Through his hospital connections, he had arranged for her blood to be collected without dy. Waiting on Alban would have drawn the process out indefinitely. Alban didn’t argue. He didn’t ask for rification. He simply nodded.


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