Chapter 829

"We don't need thanks between strangers." Vivian's voice was calm.

Ethan's breath hitched.

He knew she was deliberately provoking him, yet each word struck his chest like a hammer.

Every inch of progress he'd made was instantly erased by her cold dismissal.

"Who said we're strangers? You—"

He caught himself just in time.

"Hmm?" Vivian lifted her gaze.

He'd almost blurted it out: How can we be strangers when you're carrying my child?

That would have revealed everything.

"At the very least, we were married once," he amended. "It's only right that I help you."

"Were being the key word." Her tone remained indifferent. "There's no need now."

"The past doesn't dictate the future." Ethan's gaze burned into her. "No one can predict what's to come."

"Ethan Roscente!" She wanted to shake sense into him.

But seeing his stubborn expression, she swallowed her words.

Exhaustion washed over her as she leaned back into the sofa.

"I'll contact Patrick." Ethan stood. "Wait for me."

"Fine."

The phone rang just as Patrick Alpinus had finally fallen asleep.

"Ethan!" He ground his teeth. "I haven't slept in three days—just caught a drug trafficker—"

"I'm delivering you a gift." Ethan cut him off.

"What gift?" Patrick was instantly alert.

"Heard about the domestic serial killings?"

"People die every day." Patrick scoffed. "Local jurisdiction handles those—"

"Sophia Evans is dead."

Patrick's breath froze.

"You caught the killer?"

"Not just her." Ethan's voice turned grave. "Bianca Semona's parents, Sophia Sherwood—likely all the same perpetrator."

"You're certain?" Patrick's voice tightened.

"DarkKingdom operative." Ethan enunciated each word. "Ranked tenth on the Dark Web—Annika Heilbronn."

"Annika?!" Patrick shot upright. "You have Annika?"

Members of that shadow organization were notoriously elusive. Years of investigations had yielded nothing.

And now...