?Chapter 1258:


    Unbothered, he greeted her stare with yful defiance, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips as he asked mockingly, “What’s wrong, Ms. Hudson—do I still make you uneasy?”


    Sadie held back her reply, shifting her attention to Tina. Tina lowered her eyes guiltily, murmuring hesitantly, “Sadie, I wanted Dr. Lawson to take a quick look at Mr. Castro.”


    She knew it wasn’t the best time to trouble Sadie with this, but she genuinely had no alternatives left.


    Sadie’s guarded expression softened noticeably as she took in Tina’s quiet plea. She nodded, granting her approval. “Go ahead.”


    Her gaze slid back to Hurst, sharpening once more. “We’ll need to talk afterward—in private.”


    Hurst’s brow arched with mild intrigue. Clearly, Tina had informed Sadie about his recent interest in the NE Research Institute. Not that he particrly cared. In fact, it might be helpful to have Sadie’s insight directly. Maybe she’d even shed some real light on his questions.


    “Fine by me,” he replied, his voice effortlessly indifferent.


    With a final nce, he turned and followed Tina into ine’s room.


    Sadie stayed rooted to the spot, eyes fixed thoughtfully on the now-closed door. Her elegant brows drew together, and she was deep in contemtion. Hurst was only in his early twenties. When authorities had forcibly disbanded the NE Research Institute, he would’ve still been a young child. How had hee across its history? And why was he now so keenly interested? What exactly was he hiding beneath that casual facade?


    An uneasy intuition told Sadie that Hurst carried secrets far deeper than she’d imagined. As her mind raced through possibilities, the echo of frantic footsteps approached swiftly from down the corridor. A nurse hurried toward Sadie, clearly breathless and tense, urgently calling, “Ms. Hudson! Ms. Hudson! Mr. Wall—he’s awake!”


    The sudden announcement hit Sadie like an electric shock. For a moment, her entire body stilled in stunned disbelief, and then her usuallyposed eyes lit up with an unmistakable spark of exhration. Without wasting another breath, Sadie turned around sharply, striding decisively toward Noah’s VIP hospital room.


    Hurst followed Tina into another ICU room, his footsteps quiet against the sterile floor. This room mirrored theyout of Noah’s previous quarters, though the space was slightly smaller. iney motionless on the hospital bed, hisplexion carrying that sickly pallor unique to those who had spent countless days away from sunlight. Medical equipment surrounded him like silent guardians, their rhythmic beeping the only sign of life in the sterile chamber.


    Lenny stood beside the bed, a man in his forties whose white coat and surgical mask couldn’t hide the deep furrows creasing his brow. Every line of his posture spoke of intense focus as he monitored his patient’s condition. The sound of approaching footsteps made him nce toward the entrance.


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    Tina stepped through the doorway first, followed by Hurst, whose hands remained casually tucked in his pockets. His rxed demeanor and distinctly unprofessional air immediately set Lenny’s nerves on edge. Something cold twisted in his stomach. Why would Tina bring a stranger here? Worse yet, why someone who looked so utterly unreliable?


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