?Chapter XXX:


    Noah studied the worry etched across her delicate features, then reached out to gently sweep a stray strand of hair from her troubled brow. He looked away from her searching gaze, and when he spoke, his voice was calm and unemotional. “He simply went there to dine. It had nothing to do with him.”


    Sadie released a long-held breath as tension drained from her shoulders like melting ice. What a blessed relief! Alex was innocent. Her instincts had been right all along—Alex possessed too much honor and integrity tomit such a heinous act. She had allowed her imagination to spiral beyond reason.


    When Sadie was at her lowest, Alex had been the one to reach out and offer support. That act of kindness had stayed with her, and she treasured their friendship deeply. Doubting him had been thest thing on her mind, and she sincerely hoped she’d never have to.


    Now, with Noah’s reassuring words, the weight on her chest finally eased. A genuine smile spread across her face as she grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the dining table. “Come on, try everything! I really hope you’ll like what I made.”


    Noah’s dark gaze shifted, conflicted emotions swirling beneath the surface. He hadn’t told her the truth—not because he didn’t believe in her, but because she’d already been through so much. Tina’s death had hit Sadie hard, leaving a wound that wouldn’t heal quickly. If she ever discovered that Alex might be tied to Tina’s death, Noah couldn’t imagine how she’d cope.


    On top of that, he had no concrete evidence to back up his suspicions. He refused to risk tipping anyone off or adding to Sadie’s pain without knowing for sure. One thing was certain—he would uncover the truth behind Tina’s death, no matter what it took. Anyone responsible, Alex included, would face consequences.


    During dinner, Sadie kept the mood light, serving him food and sharing funny stories from her days at Wall Group. Noah sat quietly, listening to her chatter and asionally offering a soft reply. Dinner felt warm and easy, though an unspoken tension lingered beneath the surface as each harbored different thoughts.


    As night deepened, Noah excused himself and disappeared into the study. Sadie watched his tired silhouette walk away, a swirl of unspoken emotions rising in her chest. No sooner had Noah settled into his chair than his phone buzzed. ine’s name lit up the screen.


    He answered with a quiet, “Hey.”


    ine’s voice carried a hint of urgency. “Noah, any updates? Have you noticed anything off about Alex?”


    Noah leaned back, absentmindedly drumming his fingers on the desk. Even after all this time, Alex still felt like a mystery—someone he could never quite read.


    “He’s still an unknown right now,” Noah replied, his tone even and unreadable. “I can’t tell if he’s just covering his tracks or if he truly has nothing to do with all of this.”


    Noah wasn’t ready to draw any conclusions. Jumping to conclusions without real proof would be reckless. ine paused, letting the silence stretch as he considered Noah’s point. If Alex really was pulling the strings, he certainly wouldn’t make any obvious mistakes.


    Shifting gears, Noah mentioned something else he’d noticed. “By the way, I saw one of his household staff return with a lot of baby supplies.”


    ine’s eyes widened in surprise. Baby supplies? Why would Alex have baby things in his house? Perhaps… a possibility shed through his mind. His thoughts jumped straight to Hailey and the baby she’d been expecting.


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