Chapter 355

Howe hobbled out of the restaurant, struggling to keep his composure as he slid into the back seat of his car.

Slumping against the leather, he fought to catch his breath,his pulse still drumming wildly from everything that had happened.

Thinking back on the showdown with lsaac in that private room left his nerves raw and his mind unsettled.

He understood that walking away wasn't the end of it.Turning Isaac down was only going to make things messier.

Sherwood's suspicions had already been circling, and now Howe felt like he was trapped in plain sight,just waiting for disaster to strike.

But staying silent would only look like an admission of guilt,and he knew it.

Staring at his phone, Howe's fingers trembled as he hesitated before finally pressing Sherwood's contact. Sherwood's voice came through the line a moment later,low and unreadable. "Hello?"

Clearing his throat, Howe forced himself to speak up."Mr. Kirk, it's me. Howe."

There was a beat of silence, and then Sherwood replied, his tone flat, "What do you want?"

Panic rising, Howe rushed to explain himself. "Mr. Kirk,that video and transaction record you've seen-they're fake. Isaac set the whole thing up to make you doubt me. You have to know l've always stood by you,no matter what. Please, you've got to believe me."

A heavy pause lingered on the other end before Sherwood finally answered, voice unshaken, "I've heard what you have to say. I'll decide for myself what's real and what's not. Just focus on the work l gave you."

When the call ended, Howe let out a shaky breath,but relief never came. His nerves felt as tight as ever.

All he could do now was hope his loyalty would count for something in Sherwood's eyes.

Across town, Sherwood set his phone down on the desk, a deep furrow in his brow.

He left his seat and crossed the room to the wide window, hands clasped tightly behind him.

Staring down at the traffic below, his eyes grew cold and distant, like a storm gathering on the horizon.

Howe's desperate words rang hollow in his ears.

Real or not, the video and transaction record changed everything. Howe was too involved, too knowledgeable-and with Isaac fixing his eyes on him,things had reached a breaking point.

A cold sneer twisted Sherwood's lips as he muttered to himself, "So this is how it is. If you've forced my hand, don't expect any mercy."

He strode over to his desk, picked up the phone, and dialed a number with a sinister glint in his eye. A cold,twisted smile touched his lips as he said, "Tell the men I've trained for years it's time for a real job."

A low murmur came from the other end. Sherwood listened,his grin only sharpening, the threat in his eyes becoming unmistakable.

He straightened, voice as sharp as broken glass. "No loose ends. I want him gone. That's the price for betraying me."

Jacob caught wind of Sherwood's orders and wasted no time, rushing back to the restaurant where Isaac waited. Jacob entered in a hurry and delivered his report. "Mr.Bennett, Sherwood's already set things in motion.He's got his most trusted enforcers ready to make a move on Howe. These men aren't amateurs-they're hitmen,and Howe doesn't stand a chance if we don't act fast."

Waiting for further instruction, Jacob fixed his gaze on Isaac.

A single brow lifted as Isaac let a cold smirk slip onto his face. His voice was low and resolute. "Good work.We stick to the plan. Reach out to Howe right away.Tell him we have proof Sherwood is sending men for him. He needs to disappear now."

Jacob gave a crisp nod. "Understood. I'll see to it immediately."

He spun on his heel and hurried from the private room.

Meanwhile, at home, Howe sat talking with his wife when Jacob's warning came through.

As the news registered-assassins were coming for him on Sherwood's orders-Howe froze in shock, disbelief etched deep in his face. "Are you serious?" he asked,voice strained.

Jacob wasn't surprised. He stayed calm and moved fast. "Check your inbox. I just sent the evidence. Look it over and call me when you're ready to talk." As soon as the call ended, Howe opened the file and stared, thunderstruck by what he saw.

Gabby Adams, his wife, walked in from the kitchen carrying two mugs of coffee. Noticing the horror on Howe's face, she set the mugs down and leaned in,her gaze falling on the strange tattoos in the photos.

"Honey, what's with those tattoos on their necks?" she asked,worry lacing her words.

Words failed Howe. He just sat there, throat tight,unable to answer.

At last, Howe found his voice. "These men-Sherwood's private killers. He trained them for years,planning to take down the Sampson family. Now he's decided I'm the first to test their abilities."

A cold shudder ran through him, settling deep in his bones.

It was unthinkable that after all his loyalty, Sherwood would turn around and mark him for death.

His hand slackened around the phone, and he slumped back against the sofa, weighed down by the impossible choice he now faced.

Sherwood was ready to see him gone. Isaac, on the other hand, was offering a lifeline-but only if Howe was willing to cooperate.

After a long inner battle, Howe finally called Jacob back.

He made his decision. For now, he would go with Isaac's plan and disappear before Sherwood's men could find him.

Soon,with Isaac's help, Howe and Gabby slipped away into hiding at a safe house no one else knew about.

Days passed, and when Sherwood realized Howe had vanished, his temper exploded.

He grabbed the nearest cup and sent it flying across the office. The crash echoed off the walls,coffee splattering everywhere.

"Useless! Every last one of you!" he shouted,the veins on his forehead throbbing with rage.

To Sherwood, Howe's escape screamed guilt. In his mind, only someone with something to hide would run.

He stormed around his office, curses tumbling from his lips, the fury in him building by the second.

"Find him. I don't care what it takes-track him down!"Sherwood's voice boomed,cold and absolute.

His eyes burned with a wild intensity, promising retribution if Howe was ever brought back alive.

He understood the risk. Howe knew every secret,every hidden detail. If the wrong people got to him first, Sherwood's empire could come crashing down.

Meanwhile, Isaac took the news of Sherwood's meltdown in stride.

Leaning back in his chair, he crossed his arms, the hint of a smile on his face as Jacob waited for instructions."Now's our window," said lsaac, his gaze sharp."Sherwood's scrambling. We need to act."

Jacob nodded. "Just say the word, Mr. Bennett.What's next?"

Isaac's lips curled into a calculating smile. "Spread the news. Let everyone know Howe's got evidence that Sherwood was behind the Sampson family's troubles all those years back, and he's ready to take it to the police."