Chapter 563:

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“Madison Reid,” the man confessed.

Dayna and Nell froze. For a moment, neither could speak. Of all the names they had expected, Madison had never made the list. Their suspicions had always orbited around Declan. Madison? She was the last person they imagined spying on them.

But why? What reason could she possibly have to hire someone to tail them? And worse, to take secret photos?

The man didn’t wait for their questions. “Everything I said is true. She came to me directly—offered cash up front. Told me to trail you, take photos, report back constantly. If you think I’m lying, check my phone. I was literally mid-message when you caught me.”

Nell tightened her grip on the man’s phone in her hand. After prying the passcode from him, she quickly unlocked it. Sure enough, the fresh, damning evidence stared back at her.

A text from just moments earlier read, “They’ve reached the underground parking. Looks like they’re heading to see the doctor.”

And Madison’s reply followed in quick succession: “Keep close. Don’t miss a thing. Get the surgery time. Identify the doctor.”

Nell was frowning the entire time as she scrolled through the chat. “Why is Madison suddenly obsessed with our whereabouts?” she murmured, mostly to herself.

Dayna stood still beside her, arms folded tightly as she worked through the confusion. “Maybe she’s still digging around, trying to uncover who the Wraith Physician really is.”

It was the only thread that made even a shred of sense. But even that didn’t sit right. If Declan had truly gone bankrupt, what was left for Madison to cling to? Their relationship would likely be finished.

N𝗲𝗐 𝗐𝖾𝘦𝗸l𝘺 𝖼𝗵𝘢р𝘵er𝗌 𝘰𝗻 𝗴𝘢l𝗻o𝗏𝘦l𝘀.𝗰𝘰𝘮

And yet here she was, pouring time and money into hiring a private investigator. It simply didn’t add up.

“That woman’s obsessed,” Nell muttered, shaking her head. “Like a damn tick that won’t let go once she bites down.”

As if on cue, another message lit up on the phone screen: “Where are they now? Did they go into the operating room? Is the kid still with them? Why aren’t you replying? Want to get paid or not? Send the damn photos!”

Her impatience practically screamed through the words.

Dayna tilted her head, her gaze drifting toward Henry—still quietly standing beside them, fiddling with his coat.

He had only just been dropped off at the studio yesterday. No one else knew. No one but Nell and Dayna herself.

And yet Madison knew not only that Henry was with them—but that he was about to undergo surgery. How? Why? Could Madison have had someone tailing them just to track Henry?

But what would she want with him? What connection did they share?

Nell, clearly thinking the same thing, voiced the question out loud. “Could she think Henry’s… your child? Maybe she’s trying to grab proof to stir up a media storm?”

Dayna shook her head—not dismissing the idea, but poking holes through it. “Even if that’s what she suspects… how would she know about the surgery?” It didn’t make sense. Unless…

Dayna took out her phone and searched for Madison’s photo. She knelt in front of Henry and held up the screen. “Henry, look at this picture. Do you recognize this woman?”

The boy blinked slowly, his long lashes framing wide, guileless eyes. Then he gave his head a small shake. “No. I don’t.”

Dayna rose slowly, studying him now with sharper eyes—like a new lens had clicked into place.

“Could it be that Madison knows him, but he doesn’t know her?” Something gnawed at her, a strange sense of familiarity tickling the edge of her thoughts. “Nell… don’t you think Henry seems a little familiar? Like he reminds you of someone we know?”

Nell leaned in, narrowing her eyes. “Now that you mention it… yeah. There’s something about him. A vibe. A look. Like he reminds me of someone, but I can’t quite place who.”

Before Dayna could respond, Madison’s fury exploded across the screen again: “Tell me where you are! You’ve completely botched this job! If you don’t send me an update now, don’t even think about getting paid! I swear, I’ll make you regret this!”

Dayna’s lips curled into a slow, calculating smile. She had a plan.

She turned to the private detective. “You can go. But we’re keeping your phone for a while. We’ll return it once we’re done.”

The man didn’t argue—the way she had beaten him up earlier alone was enough to make him want to bolt at the first chance he got.

“Take it. Keep it. Just—just don’t come looking for me again,” he stammered, then ran off like he was being chased by ghosts.

Nell stood frozen, the dots finally connecting in her head. Her eyes widened, breath catching in her throat. “Dayna… don’t tell me…”

Both women turned, their eyes falling on Henry.

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