Chapter 604:

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The screen lit up with Amelia’s face. She looked soft and relaxed, her hair still damp from the shower, and the sight of her washed away his exhaustion.

“Did you miss me today?” he asked, smiling.

Amelia nodded, then asked hesitantly, “Your training… is it going all right? Don’t push yourself too hard.”

To prove he was fine, Garrett stood and took a few steps for the camera. His gait was still stiff, but it was a world of improvement.

“See? I’m almost healed,” he said, his gaze warm and steady. “When I’m better, I’ll come get you and the baby and bring you home.”

Amelia watched him, her eyes welling with tears. She knew exactly who he was pushing himself so hard for.

At that same moment, in the West Coast safe house, Nina Webb’s phone rang again. This time it was an encrypted call, from the man she wasn’t supposed to contact.

R𝘦аd t𝗁𝘦 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝖾ѕt 𝘁𝗋𝖾𝗇𝗱s o𝘯 𝗀𝖺𝘭ոо𝗏𝘦𝘭𝘀.𝘤o𝗆

“Are you sure you want to do this?” His voice was low and gravelly. “Half a million for an address. After it’s done, you take the money and disappear. Don’t ever come back.”

Nina clutched the phone, her palm slick with sweat. She closed her eyes, and the image of her brother’s broken leg surfaced, along with the loan shark’s threats.

“Yes,” she whispered, forcing the word out through her teeth.

Meanwhile, word spread that the Langley family was hosting a birthday party, and Casey walked into the hospital ward to report the news to Garrett.

Garrett seemed to have anticipated it. “Find out whether Brice will attend.”

“I’ve already made inquiries. It seems he plans to come,” Casey said. “It’s strange, though. For more than twenty years he never came back for his younger brother’s birthdays, and now he’s suddenly showing up.”

“He’s not going for the celebration.” Garrett stared straight ahead. “Contact the Langleys and tell them I wish to attend. Secure an invitation for me.”

With Garrett’s standing, gaining entry would normally be effortless. The real hurdle was whether Brice’s stepmother would agree to it.

“I can arrange it immediately. But your leg… if you go, you’ll most likely have to use a wheelchair.”

“So what?”

Garrett’s expression turned assured and relaxed. He showed no fear of losing face by appearing in a wheelchair. “As long as I can settle this matter and then go to Amelia, being mocked for using a wheelchair means nothing to me.”

Clarence called to discuss it. “Brice is smart. He’s setting the battlefield on his home turf. It’ll be difficult for our people to infiltrate the Langley estate.”

“Which is exactly why we have to go,” Garrett said.

“Are you insane? Your leg—”

“My leg is fine enough.” Garrett cut him off, his tone leaving no room for argument. “This is the perfect opportunity. All our enemies will be there. Brice, Sterling, maybe even the mysterious stepmother. I’m going to settle this with him, in front of everyone.”

It was the most dangerous move, but also the most direct. Instead of waiting for Brice’s next attack, he would walk straight into the trap.

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