Chapter 1823:


    Their eyes locked, and a chill moved through Zahir, his heart stuttering for just a moment. His thoughts raced. Had she truly uncovered what happened all those years ago? It was impossible. Hurley himself had been deceived at the time — how could a girl like her unravel something buried so deep in the past? Every trace from that year had been wiped clean. He was certain nothing remained.


    “I have no idea what you’re referring to,” Zahir said, forcing himself to stay calm.


    Christina’s gaze hardened. “That fire you arranged years ago — the one youter imed you saved my father from — every witness was silenced by you. You believed you had sealed every crack. But you never ounted for the one eyewitness I managed to find.”


    That witness had stayed silent all these years solely because Hurley trusted Zahir without reservation. He had feared thating forward would aplish nothing and might cost him his life — or the lives of his family. Had Christina not found him and cured his child’s illness, he would have taken that truth to his grave.


    “Bonnie, how can you ce so much faith in some outsider? I never harmed your father. Bring this person here — let us face each other directly,” Zahir pressed, urgency straining his voice.


    He needed a name. Once he was free, he would make certain that witness never spoke again.


    “Already nning to silence them once you walk out?” Christina said, her smile unhurried. “It’s pointless. You’re not walking out. Eat well, rest easy, enjoy what little time remains — it won’t be long before the Wades and Hewitts make quite a lively crowd on their way to meet their end together.”


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    Zahir’sposure finally cracked. “Please,” he said, his voice dropping to something subdued and urgent. “Let your fathere. I need to exin everything to him in person. I didn’t do anything as terrible as you’re suggesting.”


    The weight of what he had actually done was enough to condemn him many times over.


    “I was wrong,” he went on, tears beginning to fall. “I understand that now. For the sake of the bond he and I once shared — please, leave a future for the Wade family.” As long as someone from the Wade bloodline survived, there would be hope. And with hope, there could be retribution, one day.


    Hurley fixed Zahir with a cold, unwavering stare, then let his gaze pass briefly over the two Wade children.


    “Which one of them do you want me to release?” he asked.


    Before the question had fullynded, Jaxen surged forward. “Me — obviously me! I’m the one who can carry the Wade name forward!”


    La went rigid with shock. She had never imagined her own brother would turn on her so quickly when their lives were on the line. The moment she recovered herself, she struck back.


    “Who decided only men can continue a family? I can carry on the Wade name just as well as he can!”


    Jaxen rounded on her, furious. “Men have always led the bloodline. This doesn’t concern you.”


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