?Chapter 422:


    That made Ste pause. How the hell did Haley know that? She hadn’t told anyone.


    Ste lowered her eyes and stayed quiet.


    Haley leaned in, tone low and loaded. “Dig all you want—it’s useless. By the time you find anything, they’ll have erased every trace.”


    Ste’s fingers froze over her napkin. Haley even knew about her search today? “I’m just here for a meal,” Ste said calmly. “If you’re not eating, feel free to leave. We don’t needpany.”


    Haley scoffed, “I came here to give you a lead. But clearly, you don’t want help. So forget it.”


    Ste blinked. A lead? So that was why Haley was here? She sat up straighter. “I didn’t say anything. Why are you ying mind games?”


    Haley gave her a long look, then leaned back and settled in. “Nixon’s just a puppet. The real yer behind the scenes isn’t even in the country. The whole operation’s supply chain and market are overseas.”


    She sounded so confident, so sure of herself. But Ste wasn’t the type to take someone’s word at face value. Especially not Haley’s.


    “You seem to know a lot,” she said coolly. “So tell me—does the ‘SM’ stamped on all those garbage materials represent you? I remember Nixon used to work with someone from Achury.”


    The second Ste brought up the letters, Haley’s face twitched. “We’re working with him, yes,” she snapped. “But Nixon and I both got yed. We were used. That’s all I’m saying. Take it or leave it.”


    Ste didn’t press. She just lowered her head and kept eating, treating Haley like background noise. William didn’t even nce her way.


    Haley’s expression soured fast. She’d clearly expected them to react, but their indifference pushed her over the edge. “Did you not hear what I just said?” she snapped.


    Ste finally looked up, calm as ever. “I heard. Got anything else?”


    Haley’s patience snapped. She stood up so fast her chair screeched. “Fine! Don’t believe me. But when you arrest the wrong person and let the real viin walk free, don’te crying to me!”


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    Ste tilted her head, eyes cool, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. “If you know who the real culprit is, go catch them yourself. I won’t fight you for the credit.”


    That did it. Haley looked like she’d just taken a swing and hit air.


    Furious, she grabbed her purse and stormed out without another word.


    At first, Ste had her doubts. But the second Haley blurted out “Nixon isn’t the real culprit,” it confirmed everything. Whoever was behind this was using Nixon as a fall guy—to keep attention off the real operation.


    And Haley? She’d definitelye here with an agenda. There was no way she would’ve sought Ste out otherwise. Haley didn’t even like her. If she’d been burned by Nixon, she’d eat ss before asking for Ste’s help.


    And now, that agenda was clear.


    Ste put her utensils down. “Looks like we were right. Those documents were fake. Someone’s trying to shield Nixon.”


    William raised a brow. “If the ones we found were fake, where are the real ones?”


    Ste frowned, thinking. “The safest ce… is usually the one nobody expects. I think they’re still at the factory.”


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