Chapter 1723:

“Miss Holland!” Mandy called out, scrambling after her. “Where are you going?”

Corrine didn’t slow. Her steps were brisk, sharp with intent. “Tomb Mountain.”

Mandy froze for a moment. “T-Tomb Mountain?” she stammered, struggling to keep up. “I—I don’t have clearance to enter.”

As if anticipating doubt, she added quickly, “Without Nate’s permission, none of us can get in. The access is strictly controlled.”

Corrine’s frown was barely visible, but it was there—a small twitch of displeasure at the corner of her brow. “I see…” she murmured.

She had planned to contact Jerome, have him triangulate Nate’s position through signal tracking.

Mandy hovered at her side, clearly sensing the storm brewing inside Corrine.

She offered a strained smile, attempting reassurance. “Nate is with Saul and Presley, so you can be at ease, Miss Holland.”

She had barely finished speaking when a sharp ringtone sliced through the air like a blade.

Corrine’s head turned instantly toward Mandy’s phone.

Under Corrine’s intense stare, Mandy answered.

Whatever was being said on the other end caused subtle ripples across Mandy’s composed expression. The corner of her lip twitched. Her eyelids fluttered for the briefest moment.

She was trying to stay composed, but Corrine saw through it.

After ending the call, Mandy took a steady breath and casually remarked, “That was just an old subordinate reaching out.”

Corrine nodded, though her sharp gaze seemed to cut straight through Mandy, eager to peel back any falsehood. “Keep going.”

First appeared in g𝒶lnov els.𝒸o𝓂

Though Corrine’s voice remained even, her words sent a jolt through Mandy’s chest, her heartbeat surging out of control.

A flood of doubt rushed in. Had she said too much? Had Corrine picked up on something?

“It’s nothing noteworthy.” Mandy lowered her eyes, slipped her phone into her pocket, and made her way toward the car. Her voice was measured. “Nate is tied up with something urgent and can’t return yet. He asked me to let you know so you wouldn’t worry. He also said the thing you need is at Fragrance Garden.”

Corrine wasn’t the overly suspicious type, but the timing was too convenient to ignore. Nate had vanished, and now the item she needed was suddenly at Fragrance Garden? That place belonged to Evelyn.

Everything about it pointed to trouble—and to Nate.

“Mandy, what happened to him?” Corrine’s expression was neutral, but her eyes stayed fixed.

Mandy said nothing. She opened the car door in silence. “Miss Holland, let’s go pick it up from Fragrance Garden first.”

Corrine narrowed her eyes and reached up to gather her long hair, tying it back with calm precision. The sight made Mandy’s brow twitch uncontrollably.

.

.

.