Chapter 538
Shadows and Consequences
After settling Jose and Chase, Sierra finally left the hospital.
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She had been running nonstop all day and was completely drained. The moment she closed her eyes, sleep nearly took her.
Then suddenly, the car sped up.
“Ma’am, we’re being followed,” the driver warned. “I’m increasing speed. Please be alert.”
Sierra jolted awake. She checked the rearview mirror–and sure enough, a car was tailing them.
The head of her security detail, seated in the front passenger seat, immediately radioed the other cars. Their convoy repositioned to shield Sierra’s vehicle from both sides while the driver stayed focused.
He wasn’t worried about sabotage–his men had guarded the car the whole time. There was no chance it had been tampered with.
Perhaps realizing Sierra was too well protected, the pursuing car didn’t follow for long and eventually backed off.
Still, the security chief remained on high alert until they returned safely to the Wynn family estate. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.
“Ma’am, get some rest. I’ll investigate who was following us,” he said.
“And keep eyes on the hospital,” Sierra added coldly, “Also… make sure Victor is properly entertained.”
She hadn’t wanted to stoop to this level, but Victor had gone too far.
She knew exactly why Susie had gone to see him–it was for Jonathan.
That thought alone filled her with sorrow.
Back at Victor’s side, the news that Susie had been sent to the hospital only made him scoff.
Soon after, officials from multiple agencies arrived, requesting his cooperation in an investigation.
Victor had already expected this before Susie was even dragged out. He knew how to respond–after all, he hadn’t laid a finger on her himself. How could they pin anything on him?
But as the police began questioning him, Victor grew more and more irritated. They were treating Susie’s claims as if they were truth–accusing him of staging everything.
He’d spent a lifetime framing others. This was the first time anyone dared accuse him of fabrication. Naturally, he was furious.
Once he found out it was Sierra behind it all, his anger turned to vengeance. That’s when he ordered his men to go after her.
But Sierra’s estate was too well–guarded, and this wasn’t his home turf. Too many things made it inconvenient. In the end, he had no choice but to call it off.
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Chapter 538 Shadows and Consequences
Still, the arguments and negotiations going on outside left him in a foul mood.
The injury had also shaken him more than he liked to admit.
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Though it was just a stab to the arm, he couldn’t muster the same energy he once had. Age was catching up with him.
Maddox, too, was irritated. After much back and forth, he’d managed to arrange for Victor to stay temporarily–but under conditions. Victor was forbidden from leaving or contacting the outside world, effectively placed under house arrest.
Even so, Victor was anything but grateful. He hurled bitter, venomous words at Maddox, who finally stormed out in frustration.
But instead of returning to the Treno estate, Maddox went to a private club he used to frequent with Jonathan and Mateo.
The private suite was still reserved–though no one had visited in ages.
The club manager, recognizing Maddox, quickly welcomed him in.
Even though he already knew the answer, Maddox still asked, “Have Mr. Mateo or the others been by recently?”
“…No,” the manager replied cautiously.
Maddox nodded, waved him away, and began drinking alone.
His mind flooded with memories of drinking here with Jonathan, Mateo, and the rest–scenes that now felt so distant they might as well belong to another life.
He hadn’t been back to the Treno estate in a long time. Every time he did, it felt suffocating.
He had been the one who arranged that warning call to Jonathan. Whether Jonathan figured it out or not didn’t matter anymore.
Even if he had, Jonathan would never forgive him.
Maddox didn’t know what he was doing anymore. When he saw Susie lying there soaked in blood, all he felt was disgust–at Victor, and at himself.
Then his phone rang.
It was his grandfather.
The call rang for a long time before he finally answered.
“What the hell are you doing? Why did you piss off Mr. Victor?”
The scolding only made Maddox more irritated. Without a word, he hung up.
He was done.
He drank heavily that night, not waking up until noon the next day. His phone was loaded with missed
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Chapter 538 Shadows and Consequences
calls. One of them was from a guard on Victor’s security team.
He called back.
The guard’s voice was tense. “Bad news. Something happened to Mr. Victor.”
“…What?”
Maddox was still groggy from the alcohol and assumed Victor had simply been taken away.
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“He insisted on going out this morning and got hit by a truck on the road. He’s not dead, but he’s in the hospital. The injuries are serious.”