Chapter 423

Chapter 423:
At first, she thought Nixon’s people had noticed something and moved everything.
She assumed they’d moved everything after catching wind of her surveillance. But thinking it through—there was no way they’d had enough time to fabricate that many fake documents.
Not just files, but sealed contracts, official stamps—the works.
Those weren’t made yesterday.
Whoever it was had planned ahead. They expected her to snoop around. They knew she’d plant bugs. Everything was calculated.
Which meant—they also assumed she wouldn’t bother checking the factory again. No one wastes time returning to a place they’ve already searched.
That was the trick.
The factory was packed with equipment and boxes—it wasn’t easy to haul all that somewhere else without getting caught.
The simplest move? Put it all back after she was gone. William seemed to be having the same thought.
“Then let’s go now.”
They didn’t waste another second.
After settling the bill, Stella didn’t take her own car. She rented one instead—just in case her license plate was being tracked.
No need to hand Nixon a heads-up.
As William got in, he gave her a quick look of approval. “You’re being cautious.”
Stella shrugged. “Better safe than sorry.”
She wasn’t risking it. Not when she’d promised Brenna she’d get to the bottom of this.
William didn’t argue.
They parked behind the factory, the same spot as before. Once the engine cut off, Stella opened the door, and William stepped out ahead of her.
At the base of the stairwell, William turned back. “Wait here. I’ll check if it’s clear. I’ll call you up if it’s safe.”
Stella nodded, watching as he disappeared into the shadows.
A few minutes later, his voice called down.
She climbed the steps and followed him into the hidden room—the same one from last time. Piles of files were stacked inside.
They split up and began combing through everything.
It didn’t take long. “William, over here!” Stella called, her eyes fixed on a stack of documents she had just uncovered.
But the moment the words left her mouth, someone grabbed her from behind.
A hand clamped around her neck, yanking her backward. “Hand it over—now!” the voice growled in her ear.
Around twenty minutes earlier, Nixon had sensed someone nearing the factory. At first, he didn’t think much of it—the vehicle wasn’t one he recognized as belonging to Stella or William.
But the longer he watched, the more uneasy he became. Something didn’t feel right, and that gut feeling sent him rushing toward the scene.
Unfortunately, he was a moment too late—Stella had already gotten her hands on the documents he had gone to great lengths to hide.
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