?Chapter 389:


    Katelyn noticed the threat in Bartley’s eyes, like a snake poised to strike. Every time she encountered him, he made her uneasy, and now it seemed Vincent had just pushed his buttons.


    “Maybe we should check into another hotel,” Katelyn suggested, shaking off her unease and ncing at Vincent.


    She had been thinking about it for a while. Their current room no longer felt safe, and staying would only lead to more hassle with too many people around. It was time to leave—time to get away from Bartley, Elora, and all the madness surrounding them.


    Vincent gave a small nod, his serious eyes meeting hers. His voice softened as he spoke. “I’m sorry about what I said earlier.”


    He leaned in slightly. “I only said it to throw Elora off. I never intended to harm your reputation.”


    Katelyn waved it off casually. “It’s fine. I know you meant well. You were just trying to protect me.”


    Vincent’sment had surprised her at first, but it didn’t take long for her to understand his reasoning. Elora was stuck in her suspicions, and the easiest way to deflect was to make her believe Katelyn was already involved with someone else.


    Katelyn had recently divorced and was single, and hardly anyone knew them in Yata. Even if rumors started, they wouldn’t stick.


    Vincent’s gaze shifted away from hers, and he fell silent after that.


    The party continued around them, but Katelyn had lost interest. The small talk, the fake smiles—none of it appealed to her. Now, all she felt was exhaustion. Her thoughts drifted back to Dale. She couldn’t shake what she’d overheard him say to the debt collector—how the Earl had left him the castle in his will.


    Money might not have meant much to the Earl, but it certainly did to Dale.


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    When the party finally ended at ten, Katelyn was more than ready to leave.


    In the car on the way back, she leaned her head against the window, barely able to keep her eyes open. She was seconds away from dozing off.


    Then Vincent’s phone buzzed, breaking the silence. His face darkened as he read the message. “They’ve found Dale’s ce,” he said. “But it looks like he’s packing up to leave tonight.”


    Katelyn snapped awake, her mind racing. She quickly began piecing together everything she’d seen earlier.


    “He’s trying to dodge his creditors. If he skips town, it’ll be nearly impossible to track him down.”


    Vincent made a quick decision. “Turn around. We’re going to get him.”


    Without hesitation, he forwarded Dale’s location to Samuel. Thankfully, the ce wasn’t far from the banquet venue. Despite his financial troubles, Dale, being the nephew of Earl Poulos, shouldn’t have ended up living in such a ce.


    However, when Katelyn and Vincent arrived, they were shocked. The area was filthy—flies buzzed in the air, and mosquitoes swarmed around the rotting mess. It looked like a garbage heap, with trash piled high and a rancid smell hanging in the air. The narrow alley was nearlypletely blocked by debris.


    Katelyn covered her mouth and nose, trying to block out the overpowering stench. It reminded her of something decaying, like a corpse left too long in the heat.


    “I can’t believe Dale’s living in a ce like this. Gambling really ruins everything,” she said. Vincent’s expression darkened as well.


    He kicked aside some trash to clear a path for her. “When his mother passed, she left him a huge inheritance. Looks like he’s thrown it all away on gambling,” he exined.


    Katelyn couldn’t help but sigh. Gambling and drug addiction were like twin des. Getting caught in both could bring down even the richest of men. Dale’s downfall made it clear—he had been written off by his friends and family.


    As she followed closely behind Vincent, something suddenly darted across her path. She shrieked, jumping back, her heart racing, before grabbing onto Vincent without a second thought.


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    .<fncef4> Th?s chapter is updated by fι?dnοvel</fncef4>