Chapter 604
Chapter 604:
She turned and walked toward the waiting SUV Alistair had commandeered. She did not look back.
Beatrice collapsed onto the pavement, weeping into her hands.
In the Hayes Estate, the mood was different. It was calculated.
Parker stood in the living room of the villa, a laptop open on the coffee table. He was disheveled, smelling of sea salt and desperation. Arthur Hayes sat opposite him, pouring two glasses of whiskey.
“You bring chaos to my doorstep, Parker,” Arthur said, his voice like grinding stones. “You claim the Kensington boy is a spy for Thorne, yet you lock him in the guest wing like a prisoner of war p>
“He is dangerous, Uncle,” Parker lied smoothly, though sweat beaded on his forehead. “He has been brainwashed by Skye Sterling. But… there is something else p>
Parker hesitated. He needed Arthur’s protection from the authorities, but he could not reveal his full hand yet.
“What is it p>
“The boy… he claims to be Preston’s son,” Parker said, watching Arthur’s face closely.
Arthur froze. The whiskey glass halted halfway to his lips.
“Preston?” Arthur whispered. “My son p>
“It’s a lie, of course,” Parker added quickly. “A con designed by Skye to infiltrate the estate. That’s why I locked him up. To protect you from the fraud until we can dispose of the threat p>
Arthur set the glass down. His eyes narrowed.
“You locked him in the East Wing p>
“Yes. For your safety p>
“And what do you want, Parker p>
“I want protection,” Parker hissed. “Skye Sterling is coming. She framed me for the Port Valor disaster. I give you the spy, you give me the resources to disappear. And maybe… a cut of the inheritance for saving the family name p>
𝗝оі𝗻 𝘵𝗵o𝗎𝗌а𝗇𝗱𝘀 o𝖿 rеа𝘥e𝘳s 𝗼𝗇 be.𝖼𝗈𝗺
Arthur Hayes looked at Parker. He looked at the desperation, the greed.
“Skye Sterling,” Arthur mused. “The one they call the Oracle p>
“She’s a witch,” Parker spat. “She ruined everything in Port Valor p>
Arthur’s phone buzzed on the table. It was not a text. It was a security alert.
“Sir,” a voice crackled over the intercom. “We have a breach at the main gate p>
Arthur smiled. It was a cold, predatory expression.
“She is here,” he said.
Parker jumped up. “Kill her! Don’t let her in p>
“Sit down,” Arthur commanded. “I want to meet the woman who brought my wayward nephew to his knees p>
Outside, the heavy iron gates of the estate groaned as a reinforced SUV rammed through them.
Skye sat in the passenger seat, checking the magazine of her pistol.
“Subtle,” Alistair noted from the driver’s seat.
“We tried subtle in Port Valor,” Skye said, her eyes fixed on the castle on the hill. “Tonight, we try loud p>