?Chapter 843:


    Sylvia’s breath caught. She pped her hand over her mouth, herplexion paling like she’d seen a ghost. Inside, she was boiling. The fury churned in her gut, but she swallowed it back, unable to fight or flee. Not once in her life had she gotten the better of Elena.


    As soon as they stepped outside, a wall of reporters came rushing in with cameras and questions flying like bullets. The courtroom drama had gone viral, and the media was starving for more.


    “Miss Reed, you lost the case today. Do you have anything to say to your supporters?”


    Tears welled up in Sylvia’s eyes in an instant. She stared into the lens, voice trembling as she said, “I don’t even know what to say anymore. One wrong word and everyone just piles on me again.”


    Sliding beside Sylvia, Cecily threw her arms around Sylvia like a shield. “Don’t worry. That backstabbing Elena will get what she deserves. It’s only a matter of time.”


    For the cameras, mother and daughter yed their roles wlessly, draping themselves in a facade of warmth and unity. Meanwhile, Elena didn’t waste a second watching the performance. She turned away, ready to leave—only to be stopped short by a crowd of reporters. A microphone shot up in front of her face.


    “Miss Harper, even with the online bacsh, both the Harper Group and Spencer Group have shown their support. What can you tell us about your connection with the Spencer Group? Are you and Wesley Spencer involved romantically?”


    The mention of Wesley made Elena’s jaw tighten, her gaze sharpening for just a moment. Still, she held her ground. Her voice was cool and level. “You’d have to ask Mr. Spencer about that.”


    Her rtionship with Wesley wasplicated, to say the least. She had onceid out clear boundaries—strictly physical, no strings attached. He had rejected that idea without hesitation. And yet, they continued whatever it was they had, something intimate, something undefined. Elena had no interest in spelling it out to strangers. If people wanted answers, they could try getting them from Wesley himself. Not that anyone had the nerve. And indeed, no one dared.


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    Right then, Wesley was seated in his office.


    Felix walked in with a sealed folder in hand andunched into his report. “Mr. Spencer, this is the intel you asked for. The individual you mentioned has ties to the military. We’ve confirmed that he’s a member of the Azure Dragon Unit. Aside from that, we couldn’t dig up much else.”


    Wesley raised an eyebrow. The Azure Dragon Unit? Wasn’t that…


    Felix said, “You might want to speak with your grandfather about it. He may have deeper insight.”


    The Azure Dragon Unit was a highly specialized, deeply ssified military force. Wesley’s grandfather, Gerald, had oncemanded it. Wesley set the file aside. “Let’s move. We’re going to the Spencer Manor.”


    At the Spencer Manor, Wesley made his way to his grandfather. He slipped a ring off his finger and asked, “Grandpa, besides you, is there anyone else who owns a ring like this?”


    Gerald, his hair nowpletely white but his eyes still sharp, leaned in to examine the ring. He had worn that very ring for decades before passing it on to Wesley.


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