?Chapter 1294:


    Reading her unspoken worry, Noah offered a faint, wry smile. “Rx. I won’t punch him this time.”


    His unexpected humor pulled augh from Sadie’s lips, the tension in her chest loosening.


    “Make sure you ask properly,” she said, a subtle curve at the corner of her mouth. “I’ll wait for you.” Her voice was steady, her gaze unwavering, full of quiet trust.


    Noah nodded once, then turned to the nearby bodyguard. “Take Mrs. Wall home.”


    Mrs. Wall? The words, simple yet weighty, wrapped around Sadie like a forgotten melody. Her heart gave a tiny lurch and warmth bloomed in her cheeks before she could stop it.


    The bodyguard gave a respectful nod and led Sadie away.


    Roughly thirty minutester, a sleek ck Maybach glided to a halt in front of Howe Manor. Noah stepped out, his movements calm and deliberate as he made his way to the entrance.


    Just then, a maid hurried by, her arms weighed down with shopping bags that looked like heavy groceries.


    Noah’s gaze drifted over the contents: cans of baby form, packets of diapers, soft rattles, and tiny plush toys. A baby? At Howe Manor? His eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly, suspicion stirring beneath hisposed exterior.


    When had Alex be a father? He’d never heard a whisper of it—not from Sadie, not from anyone. Still, he buried the questions in his mind and stepped inside, his expression unreadable.


    In the living room, Alex lounged on the sofa, steam curling from the coffee cup in his hand. At the sound of footsteps, he lifted his head, his eyesnding on Noah with a flicker of surprise. He clearly hadn’t been expecting him.


    “Mr. Wall,” Alex said coolly, setting down his coffee with deliberate calm. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this unannounced visit?”


    Noah took a few measured steps into the room, his eyes briefly scanning the space before settling on Alex with a faint smile. “I didn’t expect your home to be so… lively, Mr. Howe,” he said lightly. “I just passed a maid at the door carrying baby supplies—form, diapers, toys. When did you be a father? You should have informed us so Sadie and I coulde and congratte you.”


    For a split second, Alex’s hand trembled. A flicker of unease crossed his eyes as he cast a sharp nce at the butler nearby.


    The butler visibly nched, shrinking under the weight of that look. His head dropped instantly, shoulders tense with fear, lips sealed. Alex recovered with practiced ease, the familiar polished smile returning to his face.


    g?lnσνe??s has the stories you love


    “You must be joking, Mr. Wall,” he said with a small chuckle. “There’s no child here. You probably saw one of the staff bringing personal items. Some of them have young families. These things happen.”


    The exnation slid from his tongue with seamless precision, as if the confusion were nothing more than a trivial error.


    Noah tilted his head slightly, his smile widening—yet his eyes remained cial. “Is that so?” he murmured. “You’re generous indeed, Mr. Howe. Letting employees bring their little ones along… very modern of you.” His voice was smooth,ced with polite amusement, but the undertone was unmistakable.


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