?Chapter 1124:


    A long pause settled over them before Ellis finally answered, voice barely above a whisper, “Yes.”


    Reading the tension in his shoulders, Elena realized things between him and Charlette couldn’t be smooth. She considered pressing further, but Jeffry and Louis walked back in, cutting off her chance to talk privately.


    After their meal, the group returned to Hillside Manor,ughter and fatigue mingling in the air.


    Later that evening, as Elena wrapped herself in a fresh towel after her bath, her phone buzzed—a video call from Wesley popped up.


    Upon answering, she caught sight of daylight pouring through the window behind him. “Is it daytime in Yoswye?”


    A tired nod from Wesley confirmed it. “Yoswye’s thirteen hours ahead of the.” Heavy circles under his eyes made Elena frown in concern. “Work wearing you out?”


    A shadow passed through Wesley’s expression. “Yeah. It’s a mess, honestly.” Things were spinning out of control far more than he’d expected. Still, he managed a crooked smile, trying to lighten the mood. “Looks like I’m not making it back just yet. Hope you’re not having too much fun on your wild nights out and forgetting all about me.”


    Rolling her eyes, Elena shot back, “When do I ever have wild nights out?”


    His eyebrow quirked. “Who ordered male escorts at Empire, then?”


    For a second, Elena nearly choked—she’d almost managed to forget that little escapade. Words failed her—how could he still be hung up on something that happened ages ago?


    A dryugh escaped Elena. “You really don’t let things go, do you?”


    Wesley twirled an unlit cigarette between his fingers. “You ordered male escorts in my club, Elena. That’s not the sort of thing I could forget.”


    He didn’t want to admit how close he’de to losing his cool that night at Empire, watching her act like he didn’t exist.


    Elena’s finger hovered over the end-call button, but Wesley shifted the topic to keep the conversation going a moment longer.


    Neither of them could have guessed this would be theirst chance for a long time.


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    The days that followed were eerily quiet—no texts, no updates, no trace of Wesley. Elena chalked it up to his workload. The situation in Yoswye was messy, and he probably didn’t have a minute to spare.


    Everything changed the day Felix sought her out. The sight of him was jarring—dark circles under his eyes, a scruffy beard, and all the polish gone from his usual sharp look.


    Elena barely recognized him. “Felix, what on earth happened?”


    For as long as she’d known Felix, Wesley’s right-hand man, he’d never been anything but meticulous and perfectly groomed. This time, however, he looked nothing short of wrecked.


    Red-rimmed eyes and a ragged voice betrayed Felix’s exhaustion. “Miss Harper… I think something’s happened to Mr. Spencer.”


    Elena’s demeanor shifted instantly. “What do you mean by that?” she demanded, her voice suddenly hard.


    Head lowered, Felix shook his head. “I wouldn’t havee to you if I had any other choice. Mr. Spencer’s been missing for three days.”


    Ice settled in Elena’s tone. “Tell me everything. No details left out.”


    A strained exnation followed. “Mr. Spencer went to Yoswye to investigate Joseph’s financial ties to the duke there. He only brought Arion along. Three days ago, Arion said they nned to infiltrate the royal estate to check things out—and after that, all contact stopped. I sent several undercover agents to search for them, but not one has returned.”


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