Dear Ex-wife Marry Me novel (Maja) novel Chapter 1497

The tension in the grand hall was palpable, with everyone’s eyes fixed on BLACK.

Timothy gripped his firearm, his eyes alert and piercing, as if ready to pull the trigger the moment he got a clear view of BLACK's face.

At this knife-edge moment, a voice at the door pierced the silence.

"Boss, the Elder has arrived."

No sooner had the words hung in the air than a figure stepped through the doorway.

The newcomer wore a mask, yet it was evident he was a young man.

Behind Quentin trailed a retinue of about a dozen bodyguards, all looking weary from travel.

Timothy immediately stood up.

"Elder, what brings you here today?"

Quentin's gaze shifted between Ralap and BLACK, his brow furrowed with concern, "What's going on here?"

Without hesitation, Timothy explained his suspicions.

"Elder, that's the situation. Fortunately you're here. You know the gentleman, so you might verify his identity for us."

A clever ploy to shift the blame.

If BLACK hadn't been replaced by Ian, then Timothy would have offended him. Now, by passing the buck to Quentin, Quentin would be the one to offend BLACK.

But BLACK and Quentin were in cahoots; there would be no hard feelings.

Without further ado, Quentin approached Ian.

Standing directly in front of Ian, he swiftly lifted the black hood.

As half of Ian's face was exposed, Quentin's fingers stiffened momentarily, then he readjusted the hood, almost reflexively as if he hadn't registered the action.

From their vantage points, neither Timothy nor Ralap could see Ian's partially revealed face; Quentin was the sole witness.

Now that Quentin had readjusted the hood, the face was once again concealed.

He found a seat and settled down. Timothy couldn't contain his curiosity.

"Elder, did you get a good look?"

Quentin took a sip of the tap water from a glass beside him and scoffed, "What, you think I could mistake his identity?"