บท 144: Chapter 144

Xie Liang paced the length of his hotel room, his thoughts racing with a chaotic mix of anger, frustration, and uncertainty. His breath came in short bursts, and the events of the night replayed in his mind with an agonizing clarity. He had come so close—so close to forcing Huang Yanyan to sign over those shares, to delivering a crushing blow to the powerful Wu and Huang families. But instead, everything had unraveled in a matter of minutes. The sudden, precise attack on his men had caught him off guard, and now Yanyan was gone—rescued by a group of operatives more skilled than anyone he had expected.

The dark, luxurious hotel room felt oppressive, despite its high-end furnishings. Xie Liang had taken refuge here after his narrow escape from the warehouse, but there was no comfort to be found. The ornate wallpaper, the expensive art pieces, the plush furniture—all of it felt like a cage as his mind spiraled with questions and fear.