?Chapter 1167:


    “Mr. Howe, what’s the meaning of this disy?”


    Alex settled onto the plush sofa facing Malcolm, a subtle smile ying at the corners of his mouth. “Let’s cut through the pleasantries and get straight to business.”


    “Mr. Pierce, as one of Wall Group’s major shareholders, you’ve had your fair share of shadow ys over the years—particrly when ites to quietly backing Coyle and Sutton. So tell me, is it time for you to hang up your gloves and finally enjoy retirement?” Alex asked, his voice casual but razor-sharp.


    Malcolm’s hand jerked, and the coffee in his cup sloshed dangerously close to the brim. His once-easy smile faltered mid-curve, reced by a flicker of something raw—fear.


    How the hell did Alex know that?


    Back then, the alliance with Coyle and Sutton had been buried underyers of secrecy. Only a trusted few had known the truth, and they’d all sworn silence—or disappeared. Coyle’s family was all but gone now. No loose ends.


    So how did Alex dig this up? Did they miss something? Or had Alex been quietly peeling backyers, tracking him all this time?


    Malcolm forced out augh—two short, brittle chuckles that echoed awkwardly in the silence. Outside, he lookedposed. Inside, he was unraveling.


    “Mr. Howe, what are you implying?” Malcolm asked with a tight smile, his voice smooth as polished ss. “The past is hardly worth dredging up. These days, Ms. Hudson leads Wall Group with unquestioned authority, and her brilliance is acknowledged by all. As for me—I’m far too old to challenge someone of her caliber.”


    Every word was carefully measured, crafted to distance himself from any suspicion.


    “And more importantly…” His tone dipped, edged now with wariness and something bordering on fear. “Noah—Mr. Wall—has returned. Noah and Sadie, united and shielded by the Castro family? That’s a force no sane man would cross. Not even me.”


    That part, at least, rang with absolute truth.


    Noah and Sadie weren’t just powerful; together, they were untouchable—bolstered by the formidable Castro family, they were a storm few in Jazmah dared to face head-on.


    g ? lnσ ν?? ?s, your storytelling home


    Malcolm might have been ambitious, even reckless at times, but he wasn’t suicidal.


    Alex, however, responded with nothing more than a mild, unreadable smile.


    With a casual flick of his hand, he gave a silentmand. One of the nearby bodyguards immediately responded, retrieving a folder from his briefcase and presenting it to Malcolm with deference. Malcolm’s brows furrowed as suspicion crept in.


    What was this?


    He slowly unfolded the document—a hospital diagnosis report.


    The moment his eyesnded on the familiar name and the results within, his entire body stiffened.


    .


    .


    .