2026-08-14 22:48:23
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I stared at my phone for several seconds after the call ended.The man’s words kept repeating themselves in my head.The Herb was never meant to save your sister.I didn’t understand what he meant, but one thing was clear, he knew something about the Herb that I didn’t.And that was a problem.I had spent the last few weeks chasing one thing, the cure for Natasha, and every step I had taken had brought me closer to the Herb, yet now that I finally had it, someone was telling me that I had been wrong about it from the beginning.Catherine was still standing beside me.“What did he mean?”“I don’t know.”“You’re telling me you don’t know?”“I said I don’t know.”She stared at me for a few seconds, then looked toward the two men sitting across the room.“Then they know.”I turned toward them.The second man immediately lowered his head.“You heard what he said,” I told them.Neither responded.“Who is Alexander Vale?”Silence.I walked toward the first man and stopped directly in front o
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I remained silent for a long time.The room had suddenly become too quiet, and even though everyone was waiting for me to say something, I couldn’t bring myself to speak immediately.Alexander Vale was dead.That was something I knew for certain.So how was a company that belonged to him being used to search for the Herb?I looked at the investigator.“Are you absolutely certain this company belonged to him?”“Yes, sir. We checked the registration documents, financial records and archived ownership papers. The company was established by Alexander Vale himself.”“When did it stop operating?”“Officially, fifteen years ago.”“Officially?”The man nodded.“According to the government records, the company was dissolved after his death, but we found financial movements connected to it several years after he died.”I frowned.“Someone kept it alive.”“Yes, sir.”Catherine folded her arms.“Then whoever did that must have known about Vale’s connection to the Herb.”“Exactly,” I said.She loo
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I opened the message and stared at the screen for several seconds.There were only a few lines in it, but somehow they carried enough weight to change the way I was looking at everything that had happened since I left the Hawkings residence.Sir, we found the company behind Blackstone Medical Holdings. There is something you need to see personally.I read it again.There was no explanation, no unnecessary detail, only a location beneath the message and one final sentence.It concerns the Herb.My grip tightened around the phone.Catherine, who had been watching me from the passenger seat, noticed the sudden change in my expression.“What is it?”I locked the phone and slipped it into my pocket.“We need to make a stop.”“Where?”“I just got something from the investigation team.”Her eyebrows came together immediately.“About Blackstone?”I nodded.“What did they find?”“I don’t know yet.”Catherine looked at me for a few seconds, obviously dissatisfied with my answer, but she knew me
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CiroThe man’s words hung in the air for a few seconds.“You’ve made a mistake.”I looked at him calmly.“Taking the Herb?”He didn’t answer.I walked closer until I was standing directly in front of him, then I looked at the other two men who were being held by Gregory’s men.“You came after me, followed me all the way here, and now you’re telling me that I made a mistake?”The man swallowed.“You don’t understand what that Herb is.”“I understand enough to know that you want it.”His eyes shifted toward the black case Catherine was holding.That was all the confirmation I needed.I turned toward Gregory.“Search them.”Gregory nodded.His men searched the three men thoroughly, taking their phones, wallets, and anything else they found on them.One of the phones immediately caught my attention.“Give me that.”Gregory handed it to me.The screen was still unlocked.I went through the recent calls first.There were several numbers, but one appeared repeatedly.I showed it to Catherine
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CiroI glanced at the rearview mirror again, this time paying closer attention to the black vehicle Catherine had pointed out.It had maintained almost the exact same distance from us since we left the Hawkings’ residence.I didn’t immediately react.Instead, I turned onto another road.The black vehicle turned as well.Catherine noticed it too.“See?”“Yes.”“Should I call Gregory?”“No.”She looked at me.“Why not?”“Because I want to know who they are first.”I increased my speed slightly, then slowed down after a few seconds, watching the vehicle’s movements through the mirror.It did the same.Without a doubt,We were being followed.I rested one hand on the steering wheel while my other hand remained close to the black case containing the Herb.“Interesting.”Catherine frowned.“Interesting?”“Whoever they are, they don’t seem to be in a hurry.”“Maybe they’re waiting for us to stop.”“Maybe.”I took another turn, moving away from the busier road and into a quieter area.The bla
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CiroThe room became unusually quiet the moment Mr. Hawkings finished signing his name, and for a few seconds, nobody said anything as the ink settled on the paper, making the agreement official.I looked down at the signature, then calmly reached for the contract and pulled it toward myself.The first part was done.The hardest part, however, was still ahead of me.I needed the Herb.Money had never been the problem, not really, and although one billion dollars was enough to make most people hesitate before spending it, I had already made peace with the amount before walking into this house, because there was only one thing I cared about right now, and that was getting what could save Natasha.I closed the folder.“Good,” I said quietly. “Then we’re done with the agreement.”Mr. Hawkings nodded, although I could see the tension still written across his face.“I suppose we are.”“You’ll receive the money immediately,” I continued. “The debt to the Reynolds family will be settled today
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