Chapter 747 A Thread Unraveled
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The word “fake death” still hung like poison in the air. Marie had dragged it out again, and Dan’s face went dark.
“Forget that,” she snapped. “Hand Tessa over and we’re done. Whether you go die again or not, that’s your business.”
Dan’s chest heaved. She wouldn’t let up, wouldn’t shift off Tessa. He clenched his jaw.
“Tell Derrick to stop.”
“Tessa gets back to me, then he stops.”
Her answer cut like iron. Dan mmed the call dead, fingers stiff around the phone. Talking to Marie was like pounding his head against stone. She didn’t bend–oil, salt, nothing sank in.
The door opened. Conan stepped inside. “Sir.”
“Say it,” Dan bit out, voice raw with temper.
“Derrick and Victor’s raids are spreading fast,” Conan reported. “And… ck Mountain requests youe <i>at </i>once.”
ck Mountain. Dale. The title his people used to avoid saying <i>father</i><i>. </i>Everyone knew Dale kept his legacy for Manny, never for Dan.
Fresh from that maddening call with Derrick, Dan’s patience snapped. “Not going.”
Conan bowed slightly. “Shall I return with that answer?”
Dan’s breath caught. He waved. “Wait. Ready the car.”
He had never been desperate to find Tessa–let Marie choke on her own hunt. But she hounded him like a rabid dog, biting, ming. Now she left him no choice but to scour for the girl too.
The thought alone made his lungs ache with fury.
At the same time, Derrick sat across from Marie. She mmed back a ss of milk like liquor.
“Not hard enough, is it?” she barked.
It was the line she’d repeated since dawn. In her eyes, Ashen Pact’s refusal to hand over Tessa meant only one thing: they hadn’t been hit hard enough yet. Diana’s theft from years ago still
Chapter 747 A Thread Unraveled
outweighed all the wounds they’d inflicted.
Derrick studied her in silence, the corners of his eyes narrowing.
<b>47 </b>
+8 Pearls
Marie scrubbed her temple. “I’ve never seen a harder nut to crack. We’ve torn through them and they’re still standing.”
Her voice dropped. “If we can’t find ‘Tessa soon, Ste’s heart will break. Sheforted mest night, can you believe that?”
Derrick’s brow rose. “Sheforted you?”
“Of course. She told me not to worry when she’s the one really worried sick. Can you imagine? Still thinking of me when she’s suffering.”
Her voice caught with guilt.
Derrick’s gaze sharpened. Ste–so frantic over Tessa’s disappearance she’d been nearly incoherent–was now soothing others? The contradiction twisted like a hook.
Marie caught his look and red. “Don’t give me that face. My sister’s not some spoiled brat like Kelly. She’s kindhearted. That’s all.”
Derrick said nothing. But in his mind, a reel of faces shed–Victor’s steady re, Ste’s tears, Marie’s fury. Each reaction had rung true. Yet Marie’s careless words–she evenforted me-echoed too loud, too strange.
He closed his eyes, reying every detail, until suspicion sparked.
Marie rambled on, urging more raids, more fire, until her voicended on one name.
“Artemis,” she hissed. “She’s the one. She hated Diana, fought for the same man, and Diana even left with a child–and stolen treasure. If anyone would strike, it’s her.”
Derrick’s lids lifted, dark gaze pinning Marie. He didn’t answer. But his silence was heavier than words.
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Chapter 747 A Thread Unraveled
outweighed all the wounds they’d inflicted.
:
Derrick studied her in silence, the corners of his eyes narrowing.
(47)
+8 Pearls
Marie scrubbed her temple. “I’ve never seen a harder nut to crack. We’ve torn through them and they’re still standing.”
Her voice dropped. “If we can’t find Tessa soon, Ste’s heart will break. Sheforted mest night, can you believe that?”
Derrick’s brow rose. “Sheforted you?”
“Of course. She told me not to worry when she’s the one really worried sick. Can you imagine? Still thinking of me when she’s suffering.”
Her voice caught with guilt.
Derrick’s gaze sharpened. Ste—so frantic over Tessa’s disappearance she’d been nearly incoherent–was now soothing others? The contradiction twisted like a hook.
Marie caught his look and red. “Don’t give me that face. My sister’s not some spoiled brat like Kelly. She’s kindhearted. That’s all.”
Derrick said nothing. But in his mind, a reel of faces shed–Victor’s steady re, Ste’s tears, Marie’s fury. Each reaction had rung true. Yet Marie’s careless words–she even
He closed his eyes, reying every detail, until suspicion sparked.
Marie rambled on, urging more raids, more fire, until her voicended on one name,
“Artemis, she hissed. “She’s the one. She hated Diana, fought for the same man, and Diana even left with a child–and stolen treasure. If anyone would strike, it’s her.”
Derrick’s lids lifted, dark gaze pinning Marie. He didn’t answer. But his silence was heavier than words.
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