Chapter 1083

The drive from Bannon to Capital City took just two hours, with Frederick behind the wheel. Along the way, Gerardo had already sent Hazel his location. He lived in an exclusive villa complex nestled within the city’s inner ring—a rare pocket of tranquility in the midst of Capital City's usual chaos. The neighborhood was lined with elegant, freestanding villas, each tucked away behind tall trees and thick greenery, offering a sense of complete seclusion. Not a single neighbor was in sight. Gerardo’s home sat at the deepest end of the estate. Its entrance featured a traditional red lacquered gate, and above it hung a heavy wooden plaque carved with two bold calligraphy characters: Qi Residence. Hazel stepped up and knocked. The door opened to reveal a silver-haired man in his sixties, whose expression instantly warmed with a grandfatherly smile. “You must be Miss Reese and her boyfriend,” he said kindly. “I’m Albert, the housekeeper. The master’s been expecting you—please, come in.” “Tha