Chapter 251: The Traitor with a New Look

**【Max's Perspective】**

I padded across the living room in bare feet, opening the door to find Kevin standing in the hallway, his expression tense with excitement.

"Sir, the big fish took the bait," Kevin whispered, his voice barely audible.

I immediately pulled him outside and closed the door behind us, not wanting to wake Luna. "Now?" I asked, my voice low but intense.

"Yes, sir. We've confirmed the target has transported the decoy research to their base."

"Have we pinpointed the exact location?" I asked, feeling a surge of anticipation.

Kevin nodded, his eyes bright with triumph. "We have, sir. It's in the Blake family estate."

I exhaled slowly, processing this information. "The most dangerous place is often the safest. He's certainly bold."

"We've had eyes on Skyler for six months," Kevin reported. "But there's been nothing suspicious in her behavior until now."

"Any unusual patterns?" I asked, leaning against the wall.

"Nothing significant. She goes to work at the foundation, returns to the Blake estate every evening, and occasionally attends high-profile social events." Kevin hesitated before adding, "There is one thing, though. Her brother moved into the estate about a month ago."

I frowned. "She has a brother?"

Kevin's expression turned uncertain. "We thoroughly investigated her background. There is indeed a brother who reportedly studied abroad since childhood, but information about him is remarkably scarce."

"Something doesn't add up," I muttered. "Keep close surveillance on this mysterious brother."

Kevin's phone buzzed. He answered quickly, his expression growing more intense with each passing second. "Sir," he said after ending the call, "one of our informants discovered a hidden passageway in the Blake estate's west wing."

I straightened immediately. "Prepare the helicopter. We leave in twenty minutes."

Kevin nodded and hurried away to make arrangements. I turned back toward the apartment door, my gaze lingering on the bedroom where Luna slept. Duty pulled me in one direction, while my heart tugged in another. With a deep breath, I entered the apartment to prepare for departure.

---

As I finished securing my watch, I leaned over Luna's sleeping form, gently pressing my lips to her forehead.

Her eyelids fluttered open immediately, surprising me. "Max?" she murmured, her voice thick with sleep. She glanced at my attire, understanding dawning in her eyes.

"Did I wake you?" I asked softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

Luna shook her head, though I knew she was merely being kind. "It's alright. Where are you going?"

"Washington," I replied, caressing her forehead, my eyes memorizing every detail of her face. "Stay here and rest. Don't overexert yourself."

Luna studied me for a moment, her eyes suddenly more alert. "Are you taking Lily with you?"

"No, not this time."

"Max," she said softly, "could you transfer her away from your office? I'd feel more comfortable if she wasn't so close to you every day."

I sighed, taking her hand in mine. "Luna, she was appointed by the President himself. It's not that simple to reassign her."

"I know I'm being petty," Luna admitted, her voice small. "I know I get jealous easily. But marriage requires fidelity from both parties. As long as Lily remains by your side, I'll never feel completely secure."

I gently massaged her fingers, trying to soothe her concerns. "Luna, Lily has promised not to interfere in our marriage. She's not a bad person at heart. You don't need to worry about her crossing any lines."

Luna withdrew her hand from mine, pulling the covers higher as she turned away. "Just keep yourself safe," she whispered. "Make sure you come back to us."

I tucked the blanket more securely around her shoulders, leaned down to kiss her temple, then quietly left the room.

---

By five in the morning, Morrison Group security personnel had surrounded the Blake family estate in Washington.

The commotion of our arrival inevitably disturbed the household. Skyler Hart, clad in a thick silk robe, emerged from the main entrance. Her initial confusion quickly transformed into indignation when she spotted me standing among the security team.

"What do you think you're doing?" she demanded, pulling her robe tighter. "In America, breaking and entering is a serious crime."

Kevin stepped forward, producing a search warrant and holding it before her. "This gives us legal authority to search these premises, Mrs. Hart."

Skyler's eyes narrowed as she scanned the document, her composure visibly faltering before she regained control. "Fine. Do what you must."

In the main sitting room, I took a seat on a sofa while security personnel began their methodical search of the estate. Skyler positioned herself across from me, affecting an air of casual indifference that failed to mask her anxiety.

She crossed her legs, her posture deliberately seductive as she studied me. "A man as charming as Mr. Morrison," she purred, tapping her knee lightly, "why so serious? Not even a smile or a word for me?"

I met her gaze coolly, saying nothing. Her confidence wavered visibly under my scrutiny.

"You know," she continued, her voice artificially light, "as America's wealthiest widow, I rarely receive such... intense attention."

"Is William truly dead?" I asked abruptly.

The question clearly caught her off guard. She recovered quickly, her expression morphing into practiced grief. "My husband died two months ago in a laboratory explosion. His ashes were scattered at sea, as per his wishes."

"No need for the performance," I said calmly. "If he chose to 'die,' he undoubtedly has plans to 'live' again."

Skyler's smile faltered. "That's rather cryptic, Mr. Morrison."

"Where is your brother?" I asked, changing tactics.

Her lips pressed together nervously as she glanced toward the second floor.

Before she could formulate a response, one of my security team approached. "Sir, we've discovered a concealed passage in a storage room on the ground floor."

Skyler paled visibly as I rose to follow the officer. She trailed behind us, her earlier confidence completely evaporated.

The hidden entrance was masterfully constructed within what appeared to be an ordinary storage room. The false wall swung inward, revealing a dark passageway that descended below the main house. Leaving Skyler under guard in the hallway, I followed my team into the darkness.

The passage opened into a surprisingly spacious underground chamber. Kevin activated the lights, revealing what could only be described as a luxurious subterranean apartment. A king-sized bed with gray linens dominated one wall, while a fully stocked bar occupied another. High-end audio equipment, a large television, and bookshelves filled the remaining space.

"The room is clear, sir," reported one of the security officers after a thorough search. "No occupants present."

Kevin opened a drawer in the bedside table, producing a surgical scalpel. "Sir, look at this."

I took the instrument, examining its precision edge. "William," I confirmed grimly. "He's been hiding here for the past six months."

"Along with Peter?" Kevin asked, his expression darkening.

"Both of them," I affirmed. "Let's return upstairs."

In the main sitting room, Skyler now stood beside a slightly overweight man I hadn't seen before. His face appeared oddly puffy, his features unnaturally set, as if his skin didn't quite fit properly. His eyes, however, held a cold intelligence that seemed strangely familiar.

"Mr. Morrison," the man greeted, extending his hand. His voice was raspy, as if damaged. "I'm Malcolm Hart, Skyler's brother."

I ignored his outstretched hand, studying him intently. The more I observed, the more certain I became of his true identity.

"We're finished here," I announced, signaling my team to withdraw.

As we prepared to leave, I turned to Skyler one last time. "By the way, is Peter dead as well?"

Her face drained of color. "P-Peter? I don't know who you're talking about."

I smiled thinly. "Of course you don't."

---

"Sir, with all due respect," Kevin began as our vehicle pulled away from the Blake estate, "why did we leave? If your suspicions are correct—"

"Malcolm Hart is Peter Hughes," I stated flatly, watching Kevin's eyes widen in shock.

"What? But... why didn't we arrest him on the spot?"

"Now that he's exposed, he's more valuable to us free," I explained. "William is the real concern. He's the dangerous one—the mastermind."

Kevin nodded slowly, understanding dawning. "They used these six months to undergo plastic surgery, fake their deaths, and create new identities."

"Exactly," I confirmed, staring out the window as the first rays of dawn broke over the horizon.

My thoughts turned to Luna and our unborn child. William had systematically targeted Luna's entire family, manipulating and disposing of them to isolate her. With a new face and identity, he would be nearly impossible to track.

I feared she might be his next target.

I needed to get back to her as quickly as possible.