Chapter 1317


    A day had passed before Ian received the news.


    Fitch''s car had careened off a cliff, charred beyond recognition, with a body inside turned to ash,


    currently unidentified.


    When the phone rang, Ian felt as if lightning had struck his mind.


    Tyler spoke rapidly on the other end.


    "It happened on the road to Crystalbrook Valley."


    "Did he ever mention why he was heading to Crystalbrook Valley?"


    "No."


    Ian''s fist mmed into the wall beside him as he took a deep breath.


    "Check who Fitch had been in contact with recently."


    "I did. Before he left, he''d only met with Phelps and one of his guys. His guy was in the same car. Right


    now, we don''t know if it''s Fitch or his guy who''s dead. The body''s burnt to a crisp. We are still waiting


    on DNA results."


    Tyler''s voice had an edge of panic to it.


    Ian''s first impulse was to fly back home, suspecting Fitch had been dragged down by something he''d


    set in motion.


    But after his forced departure from Windhelm, all his IDs were restricted. His only option was to sneak


    back illegally.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    Smuggling was a crime in itself.


    He took another deep breath and reached out to his contacts back home to check on Fitch''s situation.


    Meanwhile, at Greenfield Hospital, the Haskins family had crowded the hallways.


    The coroner, holding the final report, made the announcement.


    "The deceased is Mr. Haskins. My condolences to the family."


    The corridor fell silent for a moment, then erupted into sobs.


    Tyler''s cigarette dropped to the floor in shock.


    He stared in disbelief, taking a long while to recover.


    He hurried to the break room to find Phelps, who had just finished a surgery.


    "Phelps, the coroner must''ve made a mistake. Go check again. How could Fitch be dead? There''s got


    to be a mistake! Phelps, go check again!"


    Phelps, who had been operating for three hours and now faced the early hours of the morning, looked


    exhausted.


    He patted Tyler''s shoulder, his silence conveying the inevitable—ept the reality.


    "It can''t be."


    Tyler mumbled, copsing onto a nearby chair.


    "It can''t be! How could Fitch just die like that? There''s got to be a mistake. Ian has only been gone a


    few days, and now this happens to Fitch. No, I have to go to North America. I need to find Ian."


    "Tyler."


    Phelps stopped him, his face a picture of calm.


    "Stay here. This might be bigger than you or I can handle. If Fitch''s fate is tied to Ian''s business, then


    showing up at Ian''s door makes you the next target. I can''t stand to lose another friend."


    Tyler''s head was spinning as he smoked, tears streaming down his face.


    "Phelps, everything''s spiraling out of control. It all changed so suddenly, and we''re caught off guard."


    He took a drag, then with a look of resolve, said, "I need to find out what happened."


    He tossed his cigarette into the nearby trash bin and strode out the door.


    Phelps stood quietly by the window, listening to the cries of the Haskins family echoing through the


    corridor, and sighed softly.


    Yes, how did it alle to this?


    Not long after Tyler left the hospital, he spotted a sleek ck car parked outside.


    As he approached, the car door swung open, and a genteel woman stepped out.


    Clutching her purse, she greeted him softly.


    "Tyler."


    Tyler suddenly remembered her. She was Zoey from Star Movie Group, Maja''s assistant.


    "What''s up?"


    "How''s Mr. Haskins?"


    "He''s gone."


    As Tyler choked out those words, he was a mix of grief and anger.


    One by one, cmities struck when least expected.


    With long strides, he moved to leave, casting a nce at Zoey before getting into his car.


    Zoey stood by the roadside, finally saying softly, "Thank you."


    She seemed to exhale relief but also looked lost in the haze of unfolding events.