Chapter 401
Chapter 401:
The color drained from Danica’s face. She stared at Nathan’s broken wrist, and even through her fear, the words tore out of her. “Colton! What is wrong with you p>
He didn’t look at her. He pushed past her, grabbed the handle to Asher’s office, and shoved the door open.
The room was empty. Not a soul inside.
Colton’s eyes narrowed to dangerous, razor-thin slits.
He turned slowly, his gaze moving through the room like a blade drawn across glass. “Where is Asher?” His voice was quiet — the kind of quiet that was far worse than shouting.
Danica swallowed hard, her eyes darting frantically to Nathan for any kind of guidance.
Nathan’s forehead was damp with cold sweat.
Colton took one measured step toward him. They stood at the same height, but Colton’s presence filled the space between them like pressure before a storm — the kind of gravity that made everything around him feel smaller.
“I’ll ask you once more,” Colton said, his voice dropping even lower. “Where is Asher p>
Nathan stared at the floor, unable to hold the gaze directed at him. Even without eye contact, the weight of Colton simply standing there felt like it was compressing the air out of the hallway. Nathan had managed difficult men before. He had never felt anything quite like this.
𝗧𝗿𝖾nd𝗂𝗇 oո
At that precise moment, the door to the back office opened.
A doctor and nurse stepped out, both in white medical coats, and stopped short at the crowd blocking the hallway, looking thoroughly confused.
Something shifted in Colton’s eyes — a cold, sharp click of recognition.
He moved past everyone and walked straight into the private room.
On the bed lay a man with the same build as Asher. His head was wrapped entirely in white bandages, leaving only his closed eyes exposed.
“Who is this?” Colton said.
The doctor stammered. “That — that is Asher Edwards p>
“Unwrap him p>
“I can’t allow that.” The doctor’s hands went up. “He was in a severe accident. His face has open wounds — removing the bandages risks serious infection p>
“I didn’t ask.” Colton’s eyes didn’t move.
Recognizing there was no alternative, the doctor gave the nurse a reluctant nod. She began unwinding the gauze with trembling hands.
What was gradually revealed was a face so badly mangled that its features were indistinguishable — impossible to confirm as Asher, impossible to rule out either.
Colton looked at it for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then he turned, walked out of the room, and didn’t look back.
The instant he was gone, Danica dropped into a chair. She stared at the figure on the bed, her voice barely holding together. “What happened to Mr. Edwards p>
Nathan said nothing. He reached for a cloth and wiped away the theatrical blood, revealing a face that bore no resemblance to Asher whatsoever.
Danica frowned.
Then, slowly, understanding arrived. “Colton just walked away without a word. Does that mean it actually worked? He believed it p>
“That was far too obvious a setup,” Nathan replied. “There’s no way he believed it p>
Danica looked lost. “Then why did he leave p>
“Because he already found what he came for p>