?Chapter 1322:


    Dewey’s face tightened, his head lowering as his eyes flicked nervously over Nate’s features, trying to discern his thoughts.


    Nate remained an enigma, his expression unreadable, a mask of calm that betrayed no hint of emotion.


    Yet Dewey clung to a sliver of confidence. After all, he was a father—a father with the right to discipline his child. No matter how powerful Nate was, he couldn’t interfere in a matter so personal, could he?


    This thought gave Dewey a bit of courage.


    Just as Dewey straightened his spine, ready to stand firm, Nate’s cold voice sliced through the air. “Your father?”


    Corrine’s face was unreadable, but her eyes gleamed with a frosty light as she replied, “No.”


    In that instant, Dewey’s sycophantic smile vanished as though it had never been there at all. His eyes shot to Corrine, his voice rising in a crescendo of fury. “Corrine, what nonsense are you speaking? How dare you deny me as your father in front of others! This is pure ingratitude!”


    At those words, Nate’s gaze flickered upward.


    His eyes, sharp and cutting, locked onto Dewey’s like a de poised at his throat, stifling any further bravado.


    The intensity of Nate’s stare was suffocating, the quiet force behind it so powerful that Dewey’s words seemed to evaporate before they could leave his mouth.


    “I never heard you mention your father before. I thought he was dead,” Nate said slowly, his voice as cold as a winter gale. The words sent a chill crawling down Dewey’s spine.


    Nate directed his next words to Dewey. “All these years without contact. It would be better for you to remain a ghost, wouldn’t it?”


    The calm in Nate’s voice carried a hidden threat, like a storm waiting to burst.


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    Dewey’s gaze flickered nervously toward Nate.


    In that moment, their eyes met, and Dewey couldn’t suppress a shiver. Every instinct screamed that if his words didn’t please Nate, he might find himself in perilous waters.


    With a forced smile, Dewey opened his mouth to speak, but before he could utter a single word, Nate had already turned away, pulling Corrine close.


    If Corrine left now, who knew when he’d have the chance to speak to her again?


    With that thought, Dewey hurried after them. “Corrine, I’m not finished with you!”


    He had to make her see reason, to get her to help the Hond family through this crisis. No matter what, he couldn’t let this slip away. But before he could take another step, a figure abruptly blocked his path.


    Matias stood before him, a mocking grin ying on his lips. “Mr. Hond, if I were you, I’d stay put in Pree City and never show my face in front of Miss Hond again.” The disdain in Matias’ voice was palpable, his wordsced with a quiet threat.


    Even Matias, who was usually unppable, couldn’t help but feel pity for Corrine.


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