<b>Chapter </b>746 Ashen Pact in mes.


    <b>+8 </b>Pearls


    Dale’s <b>patience </b>was gone. Trevor’s report had made the truth clearer and murkier <b>all </b><b>at </b><b>once</b>.


    “None of them?” His <b>voice </b>rasped through clenched teeth.


    <b>Trevor </b>nodded. “Yes<b>, </b>sir. We searched thoroughly. Neither Madam nor your two sons <b>have </b>any <b>trace </b><b>of </b>her.”


    “Then maybe she was never in their hands at all,” Trevor ventured.


    Dale’s fist tightened around his cigarette. “Then where the hell is she?”


    Trevor had no answer.


    The study fell into silence, heavy enough to choke. Smoke curled from Dale’s lips, the bitterness staining the air.


    “They all mor for me to hand her over, yet none of them have her? What kind of twisted game is this?<b>” </b>


    “Sir,” Trevor added quietly, “Dan’s men are investigating you, Madam, and Manny. If he’s searching so desperately, then the girl isn’t with him.”


    Dale’s brows drew taut. Dan was out.


    “And Manny himself is checking into Dan,” Trevor continued.


    Dale’s gaze sharpened. If both sons were wing at each other, neither could be holding her.


    Which left only… Artemis.


    The thought cut like a de. His heart convulsed, unwilling to ept it. She was the woman he’d cherished for years, the gentlest presence in his life. To suspect her now–it felt like betrayal of himself.


    <b>Yet </b>the doubt lodged like a thorn he couldn’t remove.


    “Then who?” His roar snapped through the quiet. “Who dared take them, and dump the me on Ashen Pact<b>?</b>”


    Trevor could only shake his head.


    <b>Dale </b>ground out his cigarette. “Bring Dan to me. Now.”


    <b>“</b><b>Yes</b><b>, </b>sir.”


    Chapter 746 Ashen Pact in mes


    +8 Pearls


    Dan’s night had gone no better. Derrick’s men had just struck another hidden base of his. Fury boiling, he dialed Derrick himself.


    “You bastard–haven’t you done enough?”


    On the other end came Derrick’szyugh. “Not my fault. Orders from the wife.”


    Dan nearly choked on his own rage. “I never thought I’d see the day Derrick Morris danced on a woman’s strings. Your ancestors must be rolling in their graves.”


    Derrick’s voice turned sharp. “Better than dying alone with no wife, no heir, no legacy. That’s what really makes ancestors restless.”


    Dan’s face twisted. “You think I can’t find another? Women would line up to marry me!”


    Unfortunately for him, Derrick had put the phone on speaker. Across the table, Marie sipped her milk, hearing every word.


    Her face frosted over. “You think I’m receable, Dan? You’re the one who’ll die childless.”


    Dan froze. Her voice had struck like a whip.


    “Marie,” he sputtered, “I swear, I didn’t take Tessa.”


    Marie’s tone dripped contempt. “Mr. Morris still doesn’t n to hand her over, I see.”


    “You thick–headed woman,” Dan exploded. “Don’t you get it? She’s not in my hands! Mrs. Miller’s treasure is worth more than all your petty holdingsbined–that’s why you’re blind!”


    His words came out ragged, his breath uneven.


    “You never believe me. First you im I stole your sister, now you still won’t let go of that night. I didn’t sleep with you, and I didn’t steal Tessa. How many times must I shout before you stop hanging it all on me?”


    Marie’sugh was ice. “You faked your own death once. What’s one more lie?”


    The line went still.


    Dan’s chest heaved. “So that’s it, huh? That wound will never close. What do Marie? For me to go die again just to win back your trust?”


    you


    want then.