?Chapter 1249:


    Humiliation and fury surged within her like a tide. Still… why had that man been lurking near the door earlier? And what exactly had Alex and Malcolm been discussing in the living room? She also overheard them uttering the name “Salex” a few times. Who was that?


    A strange unease prickled at her.


    Hailey scrambled up, patting the earth off her sleepwear.


    Now wasn’t the moment for reflection—she needed to uncover the truth another time.


    That wretched Alex had her locked down, turning the house into a gilded cage. Lately, she’d swallowed her pride and acted submissive just to earn a sliver of freedom.


    Sadie. Only then had Alex allowed her a brief thirty-minute window of freedom within the estate each day.


    When had she ever suffered such disgrace?


    A cold me flickered in her eyes. Someday, she vowed, he’d regret every bit of it.


    Meanwhile, Beal had left the estate and was scanning his surroundings with caution. He switched vehicles halfway through his route to shake off any tails and eventually pulled up, unseen, outside the reclusive Perry Vi on the city’s edge. Inside the low-lit living room, Humphrey sat alone, absentmindedly swirling a dark crimson drink in his ss.


    He shot a nce toward the man standing before him, his brows faintly knitted in annoyance.


    “I warned you to onlye if it’s critical. Alex is alert. If he connects the dots, everything we’ve worked for unravels.” His tone carried clear irritation.


    Beal lowered his head respectfully, posture stiff. “Mr. Perry, I had no choice. Just now, Alex met with one of the Wall Group shareholders, Malcolm Pierce, at home. From what I gathered, several stakeholders from Wall Group have unloaded their shares all of a sudden because of Malcolm’s maniptions. They’re clearly stirring unrest, hoping to rally discontented investors against Wall Group and Sadie. And… Alex seems overprotective of her.”


    The moment Sadie’s name came up, Humphrey’s hand tensed around the stem of the ss. It shattered with a crisp snap, red liquid and jagged fragments spilling between his fingers.


    He didn’t even flinch. His stare was cial, his presence frightening.


    Three years earlier, Alex’s blind devotion to that vile Sadie had hurt Humphrey’s older sister, Aliza, deeply. Now, after all this time, Alex still intended to shield Sadie? That wouldn’t be allowed.


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    Humphrey slowly lifted his gaze. There was a storm of rage and chaos behind those eyes.


    “Then neither of them walks away unscathed. Handle it.”


    Beal immediately understood what he implied and gave a solemn nod. “Yes, Mr. Perry.”


    ” Without another word, he slipped out.


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