?Chapter 617:


    Jacob’s pupils contracted, a cold realization settling in his chest.


    Hell observed the storm of emotions flickering across Jacob’s face, his smirk deepening.


    “In the midst of my little investigation, I unearthed something even more intriguing—”


    “Enough!” Jacob’s voice cut through the room like a de, hisposure strained but unshaken as he met Hell’s gaze.


    “This ends here. Stop digging.”


    Hell’s smirk thinned, his eyes shing with unrelenting curiosity.


    “Tell me who she really is.”


    Jacob’s expression remained calm, but his words carried the weight of finality.


    “She’s Corrine Hond of the Ford family.”


    Hell let out a low chuckle, amusement flickering across his face like a dying me.


    “You know that’s not what I meant.”


    “Noment.”


    A dangerous glint sharpened Hell’s eyes.


    “Shadow, don’t forget who your real boss is.”


    Jacob met his re, unwavering.


    “The Shadow serves only one master. What right do you have to warn me?” His voice carried a quiet disdain, one that cut deeper than any raised weapon.


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    Hell’s grip tightened around the bone ring. His teeth clenched, fury shing in his eyes. And then—unexpectedly—heughed. A low, bitter chuckle.


    “Not long ago, you risked everything to retrieve that woman’s ashes. Today, you injured my subordinate to take back Corrine’s phone… You’ve already drawn suspicion from Corrine and the entire Ford family. So tell me—why keep protecting her?”


    Jacob didn’t need Hell to tell him whether his actions had aroused suspicion. He knew Corrine better than anyone. He had watched her grow, memorized the subtle shifts in her emotions. And yet—he was willing to take that risk. A gamble that the years of trust and loyalty between them would be enough to keep Corrine from digging deeper.


    Slowly, Jacob lifted his eyes, his voice calm but weighted with meaning.


    “Do you really think I’m protecting her because someone told me to?” Without waiting for an answer, he picked up the DNA test and rose to his feet.


    “I’ll say this onest time—you can do what you want. But you will not touch Corrine.”


    With that, he flicked open a lighter, setting the document aze, and dropped the burning remains into the ashtray. Without another nce, he turned and walked out.


    Carl had been discharged from the hospital for several days now, and ever since, Corrine had been staying at the Ford family’s mansion. The clock had already struck ten. On any other night, she would have long surrendered to sleep.


    But tonight was different. Carl’s words in the study kept echoing in her mind, stubbornly chasing away any trace of drowsiness. She turned restlessly in bed, but just as she was about to give up on sleep altogether, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Nate.


    “Still awake?”


    Corrine rolled onto her stomach, her fingers moving swiftly across the screen.


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