Chapter 1546:
Maddox, picking up on the nuance in her words, flicked his lighter playfully and gave her a knowing look. “Are you hinting at something about my role here, Corrine?”
Corrine’s smile was subtle, yet there was a sharpness in her voice. “Mr. Barnes, perhaps you misinterpret my words. My concern is genuine—if things continue this way, even someone with your capabilities might find Riverveille’s underground forces slipping from control. And this incident, it’s bound to have repercussions for you.”
Maddox raised his eyebrows and then turned to Nate with a smirk. “She’s got a sharp tongue, hasn’t she? You really let her speak her mind.”
“Is that a problem?” Nate’s response was cool and detached.
Maddox let out a derisive snort. “She’s your woman, after all. What else can I say?”
He knew better than to challenge Nate, especially not about Corrine.
Nate motioned for Corrine to join him. As she walked over, he placed a concerned hand on her forehead. “Feeling off?”
She shook her head and brushed his hand aside lightly. “Have we heard anything from Amelie?”
Maddox dropped his gaze, a flicker of amusement passing through his expression before it vanished completely.
Saul merely pressed his lips together and averted his gaze. This wasn’t something a subordinate should get involved in.
Noticing how everyone had gone strangely silent, Corrine’s eyes narrowed as she scanned the room. A thought started to take root. “Is Amelie from the Independent Continent?”
The ensuing silence was telling. It stretched, loaded with unspoken confirmation.
F𝒾𝓷𝒶𝓁 𝓬𝒉𝓪𝓹𝓉𝓮𝓇𝓈 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 gⱯ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝓈.ℂ𝗈𝗺
Noticing Nate’s quiet, Corrine’s features hardened. “Your silence speaks volumes. It seems I’m correct.”
“You two, step out,” Nate said, his gaze briefly meeting Maddox’s and Saul’s. Without hesitation, Maddox and Saul exited the room, each sensing the brewing tension.
Once they were gone, Corrine settled into the sofa across from Nate. Her posture was relaxed, yet her arms were crossed, signaling a readiness for a serious conversation. “Shall we talk?”
Corrine had never been a pushover. Not then, and certainly not now.
Besides, this time, Amelie’s tactics had gone beyond petty rivalry—she had crossed into something vile. Even if Corrine were the patient type, this was not something she could turn a blind eye to.
If all Amelie wanted was her dead, Corrine could have handled that. Death was clean—final.
But what Amelie had tried to do was revolting. She had chosen to humiliate her, to strip away her dignity, to kidnap her and sell her off like merchandise.
Corrine’s stomach churned at the memory. The foreign land, Soliboria—infamous for its depravity and cruelty—was not just dangerous. If Amelie had succeeded, Corrine would never have recovered.
There was something nauseating about how such wickedness could hide behind Amelie’s sweet, angelic face. That contrast alone made Corrine’s blood boil.
But more than anger, she wanted answers. Why had Amelie done it? Who had ordered it?
And above all, Corrine needed to be the one to deal with her. Personally.
“What do you want to ask?” Nate’s voice broke through her spiraling thoughts. He met her glare without flinching, his gaze calm and steady.
Corrine narrowed her eyes, fury tightening in her chest like a coiled spring. She inhaled sharply, forcing herself to keep her voice level. “Is Amelie in your custody now?”
“Yes,” he answered plainly.
“Is she from a powerful family of the Independent Continent?”
“Affirmative,” he replied without hesitation.
Corrine leaned forward slightly, her voice sharp. “Does she have feelings for you? Or did you give her a reason to think she had a chance?”
“No.”
Just as she had expected.
She had already considered two possible motives.
.
.
.