Chapter 1476


    In the dimly lit confinement of a small, steel-reinforced cage, Oliver huddled against the biting cold, his


    brow furrowed in frustration. He peered through the bars at the shadowy figure lurking outside—Ian, his


    cloak a dark swirl against the night.


    "Come on, Ian, can you actually deliver? Did you track down your sweetheart yet?" Oliver''s voice


    carried a mix of irritation and urgency.


    Ian adjusted his cloak, concealing his eyes once more. "Almost there," he murmured, the vagueness of


    his reply hanging in the air.


    Oliver plopped down on the cold ground, his backside growing numb. "Ian, I''m in this mess because of


    you. You''ve got the Porter family seal now. You can rally some support. So why all the dilly-dallying?"


    Leaning against the wall, Ian allowed himself a small chuckle, reflecting on the fallen state of the young


    master before him. Oliver was not as na?ve as he appeared; his insight into people''s true nature was


    sharp, a trait that had led him to bet his entire fortune on Ian.


    The night they met, Ian had painted a picture of the world beyond, convincing Oliver to make a


    decision. He yearned to escape Forbidden Ind, a ce where his sexual-orientation made him an


    object of scorn. Yet he knew the outside world was vast, there must be somewhere he could belong.


    As the heir to the Porter family, remaining unmarried would subject him to vilification. If his orientation


    were exposed, it could even cost him his life.


    "Forbidden Ind isn''t exactly thend of the free," Ianmented, his voice low.


    "You mean BLACK, the guy who''s been dealing with the families behind the scenes? He''s a chameleon


    —sometimes an old man, sometimes a woman, other times a youngd. No one knows what he really


    looks like. But he''s ruthless. Anyone who''s seen his face is likely sleeping with the fishes. Finding this


    guy is going to be tough," Oliver said, chin propped on his hand as he sat on the ground.


    Ian adjusted his hood. "BLACK is probably from some research facility, a low-level pawn, expendable.


    Taking his ce wasn''t hard."


    Oliver nced at Ian and chuckled. "Easy for some, maybe, but not everyone''s got the guts."


    Footsteps echoed from outside, and a door swung open. A man entered, bowing to Ian before turning


    to Oliver, his face twisting into a snarl.


    "Where the hell is the family seal, Oliver? If you don''t cough it up, by the time your grandpa gets here,


    you''ll be legless."


    The man, a member of the Porter family, red furiously. "You''d better keep up that tough talk until I


    snap your legs."


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    Leaning back, Oliver patted his legs. "Go on, try me. Break them if you can."


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