Chapter 1291

A violent rush of fury coursed through Noah like a storm breaking loose. Of course it was Alex again, the man maddeningly precise, always three steps ahead. Alex had not just covered his tracks; he had engineered a rift between him and Sadie, like a puppeteer pulling strings in the dark. One flawless move, and two lives were collateral damage.

Noah clenched his fists and forced his rage down into his stomach. “I had Jack investigate him,” he said in a cold tone, his voice as sharp as frost on steel. “I wanted to know why Alex conveniently appeared in the urban village and managed to rescue Averi.”

Blaine’s brows furrowed in confusion. He remembered Tina voicing the same unease. When Averi vanished, the Castros had scoured Jazmah—every contact, every favor, every lead—and come up empty. Then Alex had stumbled upon Averi by chance? No, that reeked of calculation. It was a scene written and directed by Alex himself, designed to get closer to Sadie and earn her trust. The more Blaine replayed it, the more chilling it became.

If their suspicions were right, Alex was not just clever; he was dangerous. Terrifyingly so.

Noah’s jaw tightened, and his brow formed a hard line. “We can’t tell Sadie yet.”

Blaine’s chest constricted, but he offered a slow, reluctant nod. “I understand,” he murmured. “Tina and I discussed this. We have nothing concrete—nothing that would hold up in court. And Sadie trusts him.”

Alex had perfected the art of deception, charming and polished, always steps ahead. He played the role of the ideal friend with such ease that Sadie had never had a reason to doubt him.

Without proof, any accusation would backfire. Sadie would refuse to believe it, and Alex might catch wind of their suspicions. “And if we spook him…” Blaine’s voice faltered, trembling with dread.

“I’m afraid of what he might do. Sadie could be next. Alex killed Tina and Malcolm without hesitation or remorse. If he sensed that Sadie was beginning to question him, who could say he wouldn’t do the same to her? Tina is already gone. I refuse to lose Sadie too. I won’t let that happen.”

He swallowed against the cruel helplessness. They knew the truth. They could see the monster behind the mask. And yet they were trapped—with no evidence and no leverage.

Noah’s eyes turned to steel. “Maybe there is another way.”

Blaine blinked in surprise. “What do you mean?”

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Noah lowered his voice, sharp and deliberate. “Hailey. She vanished without a trace. Ask yourself: who took her?”

Realization jolted through Blaine. Confusion followed. Hailey was no longer useful to Alex, so why would he bother saving her?

Noah’s frown deepened. “He is not after Hailey. He is after the child. Everyone believes the baby Hailey carried was his. Alex must know that, which means this is part of a larger game.”

Meanwhile, as soon as Sadie stepped into Nirvana, the manager hurried over, his forehead slick with sweat and his smile too wide. “Ms. Hudson, what a surprise. If you need anything, just let us know.”

Sadie gave him a polite nod, her expression unreadable. “No worries. I’m just looking around. You can get back to your duties.”

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