Chapter 144Paxton stared at his buzzing phone for the tenth time in five minutes, his pulse quickening each time Jeffery’s name flashed across the screen. He had avoided the calls long enough, but the man’s persistence was relentless. Finally—after the ringtone echoed sharply through the quiet room—Paxton exhaled shakily and answered.“Paxton,” Jeffery’s voice sliced through the speaker, cold and impatient. “Why are you avoiding my calls? Have you done what I asked, or should I expect you to do it tonight?”Paxton swallowed hard, his throat tight. “I… I can’t, Jeffery.” His voice cracked with the weight of the truth he didn’t want to say. “I can’t do that to her. Selena is my friend. I care about her. I—”“You care about her?” Jeffery spat, his tone dripping with disgust. “Don’t be stupid. I’m giving you an opportunity, Paxton. A chance to have her before that fool Alexander ties her down. What’s the problem?”Paxton’s fingers trembled as he gripped the phone. “It’s wrong. Even if I

Chapter 146Author’s POVPasto Grounds was almost empty—the kind of quiet café tucked between two tall buildings, easy to overlook if you weren’t paying attention. The lights were dim, the air smelled faintly of roasted beans, and slow jazz played in the background.Paxton arrived first.He chose a table in the corner, where he could see the entrance. His leg bounced uncontrollably beneath the table. His palms were sweaty. He kept wiping them on his jeans, but it didn’t help. Every time he heard the door creak open, his chest tightened.He didn’t know how Alexander would react. Punch him? Walk out? Drag answers out of him?Paxton couldn’t blame him for any outcome.A few minutes later, the door opened again—and this time Paxton froze.Alexander walked in.Tall. Calm. Sharp jawline. Cold eyes that took in the entire room with one sweep. The kind of presence that made the air shift instantly.Even without trying, Alexander carried authority. He didn’t dress extravagantly—just a black sh

Chapter 148Alexander drove straight home, his mind still burning with the weight of Paxton’s confession. The moment he stepped through the door of the Morrelo mansion, he found both his parents in the living room—his father reading reports with a stern face, and his mother knitting quietly, though her eyes instantly rose to him with concern.“Alexander, you’re back early,” Mrs. Morrelo said, placing the yarn aside. “Is everything alright?”Alexander didn’t sit. He paced once, then turned to them.“No. It’s not. You both need to hear this.”The tone of his voice made Mr. Morrelo remove his glasses slowly. “What did Jeffery do this time?”Alexander exhaled sharply. “He sent Paxton to drug Selena… and sleep with her.”The room fell into a thick, dead silence.Mrs. Morrelo stood up so fast her chair scraped loudly against the floor. “What?”“It’s true,” Alexander continued. “Paxton confessed. Jeffery promised him money… anything he wanted. And when Paxton refused, Jeffery tried to pass t

Chapter 150Jeffery didn’t stop driving until he was far—far—from the Morrelo mansion.He pulled over at an abandoned roadside rest stop and leaned forward, gripping the steering wheel so hard his knuckles turned white.His breathing was uneven.His heartbeat was too fast.His mind was in chaos.Alexander knows.He knows.He didn’t say it outright, but the warning… the tone… the precision…Only one thing terrified Jeffery more than being found out—Alexander wasn’t the boy he tried to kill nine years ago.He was a man now.A man who looked fear in the eyes without blinking.Jeffery slammed his fist into the steering wheel.“This wasn’t supposed to happen,” he whispered. “He wasn’t supposed to come back…”He fumbled for his phone and dialed a number with trembling fingers.The call connected.“Yes, sir?” a voice answered—H2, the man who handled Jeffery’s dirty jobs.Jeffery struggled to steady his voice. “We have a serious problem.”“What kind of problem?”“Alexander,” Jeffery breathed

Chapter 152 Jeffery had never imagined a quiet afternoon in his office could twist into something so catastrophic.He had just finished a phone call with a supplier when there was a sharp knock on his door firm, official, the kind that carried the weight of authority. Before he could respond, two uniformed officers stepped inside, their expressions unreadable.“Mr. Jeffery?” the taller officer asked.Jeffery raised a brow, leaning back in his leather seat with a calmness he didn’t truly feel. “Yes. What is this about?”“We need you to come with us to the station.”A faint, scoffing laugh escaped him. “Excuse me? For what reason?”“You will be informed at the station,” the officer said, maintaining his neutral tone. “Please cooperate.”Jeffery slowly stood, adjusting his suit jacket with a controlled, aristocratic grace. “I believe there must be some misunderstanding. But fine… lead the way.”The officers stepped aside to escort him out of the building. Jeffery walked between them, i