Chapter 1183:

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Earlier that day, he had been at Eaton’s villa, intending to slip into the basement once Eaton’s attention was elsewhere. But Eaton had gone downstairs himself and never came back up. That was when Gracie called him.

Gracie held out the sample in her hand. “There should still be staff at the lab. I need you to check this for any drug residue.”

Zane accepted it immediately and gave a firm nod. “Understood. I’ll handle it right away. You’ll have the results before tonight is over.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he climbed back into the taxi waiting nearby.

Gracie watched the car disappear down the road before turning and walking back into the estate.

Inside the taxi, Zane looked through the window at the massive Stanley residence. A subtle smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“It’s been a very long time. I wonder whether any of you would still recognize me,” he muttered, a chilling gleam flashing in his eyes. “Too bad only my soul came back. My original body didn’t. Now I’m trapped inside someone else’s.”

B𝘦 pаr𝘁 𝘰f 𝗼𝘶r 𝖼о𝗺m𝗎𝗻і𝗍y о𝗇 𝘨a𝗅𝗇𝘰𝘷𝘦𝗅𝗌.с𝘰𝗆

He took out his phone and looked at the unfamiliar reflection staring back from the dark screen. “Still, maybe that works in my favor. None of you have any idea who I actually am now.”

Rather than returning to get some sleep, Gracie stayed in the living room of Valeria’s villa instead.

Even though she had already told the maid to keep a constant watch on Valeria, the uneasy feeling in her chest refused to fade.

Anyone capable of slipping into the estate without being noticed was clearly not an ordinary intruder.

Valeria had already suffered through one attack before. If something happened to her again, her already fragile state of mind could completely break beyond repair.

The night dragged on minute by minute. Finally, as dawn light filtered through the windows, Gracie’s phone vibrated once more.

She checked the screen and answered immediately.

Zane’s voice sounded from the other end. “The analysis is done. The sample tested positive for a nerve-affecting substance.”

“I understand,” Gracie replied quietly. “Take today off and stay home to rest. You don’t need to come into work.”

Before he could say anything else, she hung up.

Her fingers tightened around the phone as her expression hardened. “So it really was true… someone drugged her. Eaton, this time you’ve crossed the line.”

At the same moment, Zane stared down at the report in his hand, conflicted emotions crossing his face. “This sample… unless I’m mistaken, it came from Valeria’s food. But I haven’t made a move yet, so who did?”

His frown deepened.

Ever since returning to life, he had the unsettling feeling that Wafland had become an entirely unfamiliar place.

“I suppose I’ll have to find out for myself who’s been quietly pulling the strings behind the scenes.” A cold chuckle escaped him as he walked over to a trash can and dropped the report inside.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded behind him.

A lab technician stepped out. “Zane, did you already inform Ms. Sullivan about the test results?”

“I did,” Zane answered, wearing his usual shy smile.

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