?<strong>Chapter 974:</strong>


    At one-thirty, Dunn stood at the school gate, watching as Aurora got into a car. As the vehicle pulled away, he mentally marked the need to n their next meeting ahead of time.


    The opportunities to see her might be limited, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t create them.


    After all, Aurora was the one person who could make him feel genuinely at ease, even amidst the pressures of his life.


    Rnd poured hand sanitizer onto the bathroom floor.


    When Joelle entered the bathroom, she slipped,nding hard on the cold floor. Meanwhile, Rnd was watching TV as if he hadn’t noticed a thing. The TV only aired a handful of channels, mostly international news.


    Joelle hobbled out. “Was that on purpose?”


    Rnd didn’t even flinch, his tone t. “What are you talking about?”


    Joelle sucked in a frustrated breath, deciding it wasn’t worth arguing. Without another word, she limped out to find a nurse to clean and bandage her scraped knee.


    When she returned, the scene at the ward door stopped her in her tracks. Adrian stood firmly, blocking the way, as a group of embassy officials and police officers tried to force their way in.


    “Mr. Miller, Rnd, as Wade’s only surviving son, has a duty to cooperate with our investigation. This isn’t just about him—it concerns national security.” Adrian didn’t budge. “He’s already cooperated. When you questioned himst time, he told you he didn’t know anything.”


    Joelle stepped forward, her cold, sharp gaze locking onto Hooper. “Do you seriously believe an eighteen-year-old has the ability to threaten this country’s security?”


    Hooper, his patience already worn thin, let his hand hover near the gun at his hip. His tone was clipped and cold. “It doesn’t matter what I believe. If he doesn’t give us what we need, none of you are leaving here.”


    Adrian moved slightly, positioning himself between Joelle and Hooper. “It’s impressive how tough you guys are when ites to bullying a kid and a woman. Yet when it’s about the terrorists, you’re all useless. Or are you admitting that without Rnd, you’repletely powerless?”


    Hooper’s fingers tightened on the handle of his gun. “Mr. Miller, I suggest you think carefully before overstepping your bounds.”


    “Cut the theatrics. Just say what you want Rnd to do.”


    Hooper’s shrewd eyes flicked between Adrian and Joelle, his expression cold and calcting, the hidden cunning now fully on disy. “We need Rnd to lead us up the mountain and identify the terrorists’ hideout.”


    Joelle stepped forward, her expression zing with defiance. “You want to use Rnd as bait? Over my dead body!”


    “We will ensure his safety!”


    “Do you even believe the lies you’re spouting? Those people are terrorists! Rnd is still recovering from his injuries. I will never agree to that!”


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