Chapter 723

Chapter 723:

He had only himself to blame. If he hadn’t constantly backed her into a corner, things wouldn’t have escalated to this point. He had it coming.

With Sutton gone, no one could hold anything over her anymore. That alone should have brought her relief.

After bathing, Hailey changed into fresh clothes and stepped out. A carefully arranged meal was waiting, but Noah was absent. She glanced at a servant and casually asked, “Where’s Mr. Noel?”

The servant hesitated before replying, “Ms. Burgess, Mr. Noel left for a suburban hot spring resort. He mentioned he won’t be returning for the next few days.”

Hot spring resort?

Hailey’s eyes narrowed. Why would Noah suddenly decide to go there?

As if recalling something, the servant added, “Oh, and I heard that Ms. Hudson is also at the hot spring resort.”

Sadie!

Hailey’s expression darkened instantly, anger surging within her. She wanted nothing more than to storm off and confront Sadie immediately. But the thought of Sutton’s demise kept her rooted in place. She couldn’t afford reckless actions—not yet. She needed a strategy. Careful planning.

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Sadie wouldn’t get away with this.

Upon reaching the hot spring resort, Noah was about to enter when he suddenly felt something latch onto his leg. He frowned and looked down. A child was clinging to his leg.

The child looked about six years old, his little face scrunched up, tears streaming down as he sobbed uncontrollably.

“‘Mister, I can’t find my mom,” the little boy whimpered, his voice choked with emotion.

A peculiar sense of familiarity stirred within Noah… which was strange. He was never fond of children—especially not strangers’—but something about this boy unsettled him.

Almost without thinking, he crouched down and lifted the child into his arms. The boy was warm, soft, and carried a faint, innocent scent.

“Take care of the luggage,” Noah instructed his driver, his tone clipped. Then, he prepared to find the child’s mother.

He focused on the child, his voice gentler than before. “What’s your name, kid? Do you know where your parents are?”

Sniffling, the boy replied, “‘I’m Averi Hudson. My mom is Sadie Hudson.”

Noah’s stride faltered, his grip tightening ever so slightly. That name…

It was one he wished he could erase from his thoughts, yet it always found a way back. Inexplicably, he found the name quite distasteful.

But the boy’s next words stopped him cold.

“My dad’s name is Noah Wall.”

Averi wiped at his tear-streaked face and, despite his sniffles, spoke with absolute certainty.

“‘Mommy told me—my dad is Noah Wall.”

Noah felt as though he had been struck by a bolt of electricity, his mind wiped blank. He gawked at the small boy in his arms, utterly stunned.

Averi was angelic, his delicate features carrying a faint resemblance to Noah’s own. This couldn’t be real. A pounding pressure built in Noah’s skull, frustration and disbelief surging through him.

Setting Averi down, Noah leaned against the wall, his expression tense. His temples throbbed intensely, as if his head might burst.

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