Chapter 716

Chapter 716:

“Noah, where are you going?” she asked, keeping her voice soft, trying to mask her turmoil.

“Just rest at home.” Noah’s tone was detached, uninterested. Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked out. Unease crept into Hailey’s chest. Noah’s demeanor had been increasingly distant lately. Was he beginning to suspect something? The thought sent a chill through her, but she forced herself to remain composed.

“Be careful on the road.”

Noah gave no response as he stepped into his car. The sleek Maybach pulled away from the villa, leaving her standing at the entrance, her expression darkening. As the vehicle sped off, she turned and entered the house.

Meanwhile, Noah sat in the backseat of the car, eyes closed. Hailey’s face lingered in his mind. Her delicate makeup, her practiced smile—it was the same as always. And yet, he felt nothing.

“Why?”

His voice cut through the silence. “To Wall Manor.”

The driver nodded, and as the car changed course, Noah retrieved a silver mask, slipping it on without another word.

gⲁ𝗅𝓝𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀.𝗰0𝗺, 𝓜𝒐𝒓𝑒 novels

When he arrived at the grand estate, his sharp gaze landed on a familiar figure—Alex. Before returning to the country, Noah had conducted thorough research. The Howe family ranked just beneath the Walls in power, and word had it that Alex had never married, waiting all these years for Sadie.

Alex’s eyes met Noah’s, his expression unreadable.

A moment later, the manor’s butler emerged. Upon recognizing them, he stepped forward and addressed them with polite deference. “Mr. Noel, Mr. Howe, please come in.”

Noah and Alex exchanged a look before silently stepping into the estate one after the other.

Sadie sat in the garden, tending to flowers from her wheelchair. The warm sunlight cast a soft glow over her, making the scene almost serene. As footsteps approached, she lifted her head, and her expression faltered slightly when she saw Noah. The memory of that night in the apartment resurfaced, making her momentarily uneasy.

Alex immediately strode forward, concern evident in his tone. “Sadie, how are you feeling?” His eyes reflected his worry.

Sadie offered a faint smile. “I’m fine. Just minor injuries—nothing a few days of rest won’t fix.”

Seeing Alex fuss over Sadie triggered an inexplicable irritation within Noah, a sharp stab of jealousy piercing his heart. He didn’t understand why seeing Alex care for Sadie made him uneasy. Suddenly, his patience snapped. Without warning, he gripped the handles of Sadie’s wheelchair and pushed it forward, his voice sharp. “Ms. Hudson, we have important matters to discuss. Mr. Howe should leave.”

The authority in his tone left no room for argument.

Sadie blinked in surprise, caught off guard by his abrupt behavior. Yet, she didn’t resist, allowing him to guide her away.

Behind them, Alex’s expression darkened.

He had heard of this Patrick, but it had barely been two weeks since the man’s arrival in the city—how had he already gotten so close to Sadie?

And more importantly, why did Patrick seem strangely familiar?

Alex’s brow furrowed, a quiet tension settling over him like a tightening thread. A strange, creeping unease stirred in his chest—and he couldn’t shake it.

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